Veteran cardiologist pleads guilty to sexual battery of another doctor

A longtime cardiologist out of Palo Alto, California, has pleaded guilty to one count of felony abusive sexual contact. He is scheduled to be sentenced later this year.

John Giacomini, 73, was chief of the cardiology section at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital in Palo Alto for more than 30 years. During his time, according to a prepared statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Giacomini repeatedly subjected a subordinate physician to “unwanted and unwelcome sexual contact.” The victim resisted these advances, sometimes forcibly, but Giacomini continued to harass her again and again.

This behavior reached its peak in December 2017, when Giacomini repeatedly fondled the victim inappropriately until a janitor interrupted the encounter. The victim resigned from her position with the hospital after the incident.

“As a supervisor and manager, Giacomini had an obligation to the VA and to his subordinates to prevent workplace sexual harassment and disclose any harassing behavior of which he became aware,” according to the statement. “He failed to do this.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office also emphasized that Giacomini knew he worked in a position of power, one that came with “significant authority, prestige and influence.”