Closing arguments wrapped up Thursday in the trial of former Tucson doctor Dung Nguyen, who stands accused of sexually abusing and assaulting more than 20 patients over 25 years. Jurors were set to begin deliberating early Friday, bringing a case built on weeks of testimony from more than a dozen alleged victims to its final phase.
State prosecutor Lacee Collins used her closing argument to recount the testimony of each alleged victim for jurors, according to KVOA. Collins argued that Nguyen's patients never consented to the way he touched them and that he exploited their trust, telling jurors these encounters were not legitimate medical procedures or exams.
Defense Pushes Back on Accusers' Credibility
Defense attorney Michael Bloom countered that medicine was Nguyen's true calling and that he was attentive to the people who came to him for care. Bloom argued his client was simply doing his job when patients sought him out, telling jurors his training was to evaluate a patient's health, the station's report notes.
Bloom also questioned the credibility of some of the alleged victims, pointing to their mental health, and the defense claimed some accusers only came forward after hearing about Nguyen through media coverage of the case. The trial began in September, and over the following weeks the jury heard directly from more than a dozen alleged victims, per the same account.
Conflicting Counts on Scale of the Case
Exactly how large the case against Nguyen is depends on which outlet's numbers you look at. KVOA reported that Nguyen faces 38 charges involving 23 alleged victims, while KOLD reported 31 criminal counts involving nearly 20 alleged victims. KOLD also reported that the charges span 25 years, and that prosecutors and the defense delivered their closing arguments Thursday, November 5.
Back in September, when the trial opened, KOLD reported that the state's opening statement told jurors they would hear from 23 alleged victims. By the time testimony concluded, KVOA reported the jury had heard from more than a dozen.
Jury Deliberations Begin Friday
With closing arguments complete, the case was expected to go to the jury next, KVOA reported. KOLD reported that deliberations were set to begin early Friday, November 6, and that a decision could take several days.
