A former Boston area medical worker has been sentenced to prison after being convicted for indecent assault on multiple patients. Damien Knighton, a 41-year-old ex-employee of Massachusetts General Hospital's Back Bay Health Center, was given a sentence of 9 to 12 years by a judge today. Upon completion of his imprisonment, Knighton will also face three years of probation, and is barred from working in the medical profession within the state, as per the Suffolk County District Attorney's statement released to NBC Boston.
Arrested in January 2023, Knighton was accused of sexually assaulting four patients under the guise of medical examination at the respected healthcare facility. MassLive reports detail the incident involving a patient who visited for shoulder and leg injuries, was coerced by the medical assistant into undergoing additional tests that included invasive and unnecessary procedures.
According to the jury's verdict and the Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, Knighton was convicted of six counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14. "These incidents were egregious personal and ethical violations in a place of treatment and trust," Hayden said in a statement obtained by MassLive, while expressing gratitude towards the victims for their courage in recounting the traumatic events.
In the courtroom, the victims recounted their experiences, with one saying, "The last two-plus years have taken a toll on me both personally and professionally," as shared with NBC Boston. They agonized over the shame and guilt of the incidents. It is Judge Debra Squires-Lee that concluded Knighton had manipulated his medical role to commit the offenses, deepening the victims' emotional and psychic wounds, betraying the trust integral to their professional relationship.
