CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A former employee at Adena Regional Medical Center has accused Dr. Gustavo Barrazueta of sexual harassment and assault. The accusations include sending explicit text messages and touching the employee inappropriately, according to a police report.
Barrazueta, a surgeon with the Adena Orthopedic and Spine Institute, is accused of sending messages regarding sexual intercourse he wanted to allegedly have and grabbing the employee as she tried to walk past him at a nurse’s station, according to a police report the Guardian obtained. The former employee reported the incidents to her manager and administration but felt the doctor only received a “slap on the wrist,” she told police.
The Guardian does not name alleged sexual assault victims without their consent.
The case was presented to the Ross County Prosecutor’s Office, but the doctor’s alleged conduct was not considered criminal, however, the possibility of civil proceedings remained, prosecutors said.
The Guardian reached out to Adena Health System for comment on the allegations. A spokesperson for the healthcare provider said, “Adena takes allegations of these regards very serious and cooperates with law enforcement.”
The local healthcare giant would not comment further on the doctor or the allegations.