Three women say a Southwest Philadelphia doctor sexually assaulted them while they were in his care, describing a pattern that began with comments about their bodies and escalated into physical misconduct during medical appointments. Dr. Herbert Tisnower settled all three lawsuits for a combined $100,000 as trial approached, with no admission of wrongdoing, and two more women have since notified him of their intent to sue as well.
The lawsuits, filed in January, accuse Tisnower of assaulting the women during appointments at his former practice, Sol Family Medicine, on the 1800 block of South 65th Street, according to 6abc. Two of the women alleged that Tisnower penetrated them without gloves while providing medical services, and a third alleged that he penetrated her without gloves and also requested to perform oral sex on her. The station reports the women described the misconduct as progressing over time, starting with remarks about their bodies before turning physical.
Patients Say They Reported Him, but No Charges Followed
Two of the women told the station they reported the alleged conduct to police. One said a Special Victims investigation was opened in her case, but no criminal charges were ultimately filed. Both women said they believe the doctor should have faced criminal prosecution. Philadelphia police said they could not comment on the case, the outlet's report notes.
One of the women also sought a protection from sexual violence order against Tisnower, which was later dropped. The same woman said she suffers from mental illness, and the article's account notes that Tisnower had prescribed medication to the women he treated. She recalled telling him repeatedly that his actions were wrong, saying she could not believe he did it and describing how his conduct progressed over successive visits. Another woman described freezing during an alleged incident, saying, “I just stood there and just stayed in shock.”
Settlement Reached as Trial Neared, No Admission of Guilt
As trial approached, Tisnower reached settlements with all three women totaling $100,000, with no admission of wrongdoing included in the agreements. The women said the outcome did not give them what they wanted. One said she had hoped Tisnower would acknowledge his actions, be arrested, apologize, and get help.
Two additional plaintiffs have since filed court paperwork notifying Tisnower of their intent to sue, though details of their claims have not yet been filed. Tisnower's attorney said the doctor denies all allegations of wrongdoing and has not been charged with any criminal offenses. Approached outside his home in Fairmount, Tisnower declined to discuss the allegations, telling the station, “I don't want to talk about anything.”
Licensing Status Remains Unchanged
A review of state records found that Tisnower remains licensed to practice medicine and has no prior disciplinary actions on file. A spokesperson for the state medical board said the agency could not comment on whether it was aware of the allegations or whether any investigation was underway. The case remains tied to civil court proceedings, with records available through the Philadelphia court system's public docket portal.
Pennsylvania law allows survivors of sexual violence to seek a civil protection order separate from any criminal case, a legal avenue outlined by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. It remains unclear what became of the two additional plaintiffs' notifications, or whether formal lawsuits will follow.
