A former pediatrician in Massachusetts stands accused of sexually assaulting 15 patients, with charges including nine counts of rape of a child with force and eight counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. Dr. Richard Kauff, 68, of Norwell, was indicted by a Plymouth County grand jury, details Boston 25 News. The accusations span over two decades of Kauff's career as a pediatrician at South Shore Medical Center.

Kauff, who has practiced medicine since 1983 and retired in 2022, has been released on $50,000 cash bail with conditions that he must stay away, and have no contact with the victims or the medical facilities in Norwell and Kingston. Timothy J. Cruz, Plymouth County District Attorney, announced that Kauff agreed last November to relinquish his medical license voluntarily and is prohibited from practicing medicine, as reported by WCVM.

The case against Kauff emerged after an anonymous Facebook post on October 4, 2023, led to public encouragement for the victim to contact authorities. This social media post was the catalyst for the following day's report from another victim to the Norwell Police, both victims named Kauff as their assailant. Over three dozen people came forward after Norwell Police sought charges, which triggered a grand jury investigation to identify any additional victims and assess the potential for prosecution.

According to the sources, the rigorous grand jury investigation examined the allegations over a period of months, returning indictments for 15 different victims over 23 years. Kauff's arraignment is scheduled to take place in Superior Court at a later, unspecified date. The disturbing span of the allegations and the eventual indictment serve as a grave reminder of the potential for abuse of trust within the medical profession, Cruz said.