Can You Sue a Pediatrician for Sexual Abuse in Pennsylvania?
If your child was abused by a pediatrician, you are probably carrying questions you have not been able to say out loud yet. A civil claim in Pennsylvania can hold the doctor accountable and, in many cases, the practice or hospital that employed and supervised them. A civil case is separate from any criminal case. You do not need a conviction, a charge, or even an investigation, and you do not need to have reported it right away. Few relationships carry more trust than the one between a family and a child’s doctor. When a pediatrician breaks that trust, the impact on a family is devastating, and none of this is your fault as a parent. A civil claim is often the only way a family can learn the full truth and force a practice to change so that other children are protected.How the Practice or Hospital Can Be Responsible in Sexual Abuse Cases
The doctor is personally responsible, but in many cases the practice, clinic, or hospital shares that responsibility as well. Common theories include:- Negligent hiring or credentialing: The practice employed a physician despite prior red flags or disciplinary history.
- Failure to provide a chaperone or to follow safeguarding protocols for examining children.
- Ignoring prior complaints from families or staff about the same provider.
- Negligent supervision or retention: Keeping a provider on staff after warning signs appeared.
- Failure to report suspected abuse under Pennsylvania’s mandated-reporter law.
How Long Do You Have to File a Pediatrician Abuse Claim in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania sets specific deadlines for filing a civil claim, and those deadlines have changed in recent years. The safest step is to confirm yours directly rather than assume it is already too late. How much time you have can depend on how old you were when the abuse happened, along with other factors. The most important thing to know is that abuse by a pediatrician from years ago may still be within the deadline, and waiting can quietly take the decision out of your hands. A free, confidential call with Ashley DiLiberto gives you a clear, accurate answer about your own deadline, at no cost and with no obligation.How to Learn More About Your Legal Rights
You do not need every detail, a police report, or any paperwork to reach out. You do not need to have told anyone before now. A first conversation is simply that: a conversation on your terms and at your pace. When you are ready, here is what a confidential review with Ashley DiLiberto looks like:- You share only what you are comfortable sharing. There is no interrogation and no judgment.
- Ashley explains, in plain language, whether the practice or hospital and the people involved can be held accountable, and what your options are.
- If we move forward, the case is handled on contingency: there is no cost unless we win.
Compensation in a Pediatrician Abuse Case
A civil claim can seek compensation for counseling and future therapy, medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and the lasting impact the abuse has had on your life. For many survivors, a case is about more than money: it is about accountability, requiring the practice or hospital to change how it protects people so no one else is harmed the same way. Survivors of Abuse PA handles these cases on contingency. Past results never guarantee a future outcome, and every case is evaluated on its own facts.About Ashley DiLiberto
Ashley B. DiLiberto is a Pennsylvania sexual abuse attorney and Partner at Messa & Associates, P.C. in Philadelphia, where she leads the firm’s national Mass Tort Litigation Team. She was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2017 (Attorney ID 323701, clean disciplinary record) and has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers “Rising Star” every year since 2019. She represented survivors in the Boy Scouts of America cases connected to the $2.46 billion settlement and offers free, confidential consultations 24/7. Past results do not guarantee a future outcome.Frequently asked questions
Can I sue a pediatrician for abusing my child?
Often, yes. A civil claim can name the physician and, in many cases, the practice or hospital where negligence in hiring, chaperoning, supervision, or reporting helped the abuse happen. A free review tells you whether your family has a claim.
Who do I call to report abuse by a doctor in Pennsylvania?
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. To report suspected child abuse, contact ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313, available 24/7. You can also report to the state medical board. An attorney can explain your civil options at no cost.
Do I need a criminal conviction to sue?
No. A civil case is separate from the criminal system. You can pursue it even if no one was charged or convicted, and even if the abuse was never reported at the time.
What are the warning signs in a child?
Common signs include sudden fear of a provider or of appointments, unexplained injuries, regression, nightmares, age-inappropriate behavior, and withdrawal. These do not prove abuse but are reasons to ask questions and seek help.
Who is liable — the doctor or the practice?
Often both. The physician is responsible for their conduct, but the practice or hospital is frequently liable too — and usually carries the insurance and resources to make a recovery meaningful.
Should a chaperone have been present?
Safeguarding guidance supports having a parent or chaperone present for a child's intimate exam. The absence of that protection can be relevant to a practice's negligence.
How long do we have to file in Pennsylvania?
Deadlines depend on the child's age and when the abuse happened, and they have changed recently. Even older cases may still qualify. A free call confirms your exact deadline.
Will our family's privacy be protected?
Yes. Your first conversation is confidential, and protecting a child's privacy is a priority. Many of these cases resolve confidentially. You share only what you are comfortable with.
What does it cost?
Nothing up front. Cases are handled on contingency — no fee unless we win — and the consultation is free and confidential.
Serving sexual abuse survivors across Pennsylvania
Ashley DiLiberto represents survivors statewide. Explore help in your area:
