CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Dr. Gus Barrazueta, M.D., an orthopedics surgeon at Adena Health System, has been terminated from his position following a series of allegations involving sexual misconduct and admission of illegal drug use. The termination comes after months of scrutiny and investigations into his behavior.
Barrazueta’s dismissal stems from a cascade of revelations that have rocked the local mega health system. Text messages exchanged between the doctor and a hospital vendor, obtained by The Guardian, have exposed his admission of engaging in illegal drug activities during a recent visit to Las Vegas. In the messages, Barrazueta candidly admitted to “doing too many drugs and drinking too much,” shedding light on a previously undisclosed aspect of his personal life.
The revelation adds fuel to the fire that has been steadily growing around Barrazueta. Allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women, including former Adena Health System employees and patients, have cast a dark cloud over his once-pristine reputation. The scandal began to unravel when a former employee filed a police report in February, accusing Barrazueta of sending explicit text messages and making unwarranted physical advances without consent.
The police report showed that a former employee accused Barrazueta of sending her sexually explicit text messages and grabbing her around the waist without her consent. Later that week another former coworker of the doctor filed a report claiming similar conduct by him. According to the report, the alleged victim claims that Barrazueta repeatedly texted her phone saying, “I would do such dirty things to you,” and asking the female worker if he left his spouse would she be with him? The victim, in the report, told investigators that the final straw was when the doctor reportedly texted her sexually explicit messages regarding things he would like to do to her. The messages were provided to the Guardian by police but are too graphic to publish, however, one said that Barrazueta wished to “lick” the woman’s anus. He reportedly also declined to use the woman’s company for future services after she denied his pass.
Adena’s Chief Executive, Jeff Graham, addressed the matter in a recent interview with a Columbus television station, describing the situation as “sad.” The health system’s public relations team, however, has remained tight-lipped regarding the allegations and subsequent termination.
After being on the job for months since the news broke about Barrazueta’s alleged behavior, Adena finally fired the doctor on Tuesday. In a memo sent to staff, the hospital announced his release.
“Adena Health takes very seriously the integrity of our organization and our code of conduct. As part of that, we follow closely strict policies and procedures to ensure the safety of our patients and caregivers and investigate any claims that indicate a violation of the code of conduct. As a result, effective today Dr. Gus Barrazueta has been terminated from the organization. The Adena Orthopedic and Spine Institute staff is contacting his patients to ensure continuity of care.”
Deputies confirmed that multiple criminal reports are being filed against various doctors at the hospital, indicating a broader issue that extends beyond Barrazueta’s actions. As the community grapples with these revelations, questions regarding accountability and transparency within the healthcare system remain at the forefront of public discourse.