Army Doctor Suspended Amid Secret Filming Allegations
A married US Army gynaecologist who worked at military hospitals across the United States is facing a criminal investigation for allegedly secretly recording patients during their most intimate medical examinations. Blaine McGraw, a doctor at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center in Fort Hood, has been suspended from his position and is under investigation by the US Army's criminal investigation division.
Patient's Harrowing Account of Exploitation
The investigation was triggered after a military spouse, identified in legal documents as Jane Doe, accused McGraw of recording her body without consent during an appointment. A civil lawsuit filed on November 10th in Texas alleges that McGraw used his medical position to "sexually exploit, manipulate, and secretly record women under his care."
Jane Doe claimed she visited the army hospital seeking treatment for pelvic pain, hormone irregularities and uterine health issues. Instead, she alleges her examination room "became a stage for exploitation" where she was subjected to unnecessary and invasive breast and vaginal examinations that were described as "humiliating, and profoundly violating."
According to the lawsuit, McGraw's behaviour during seven or eight appointments had nothing to do with her medical issues. The legal filing states: "Jane Doe sought legitimate medical treatment but instead was subjected to invasive, unnecessary, and degrading touching, voyeurism, and covert filming."
Multiple Victims Come Forward
Andrew Cobos, Jane Doe's lawyer, revealed to the Daily Mail that he is now representing more than 65 of McGraw's alleged victims. Cobos emphasised the need for transparency, stating: "Ultimately my clients believe in transparency and hope that the Army is forthright in investigating claims and sharing information about past inquiries or investigations into complaints about McGraw."
The attorney highlighted what he described as an "epidemic of sexual abuse and tolerance" within the Army and called for Congressional oversight to address sexual misconduct within military ranks.
Other women have come forward with similar allegations against McGraw. One woman who said she had been McGraw's patient in Hawaii told NBC News that the doctor's camera had been pointed towards her during all of their appointments. She claimed McGraw told her that "if things were different," he would "leave his wife" for her.
Detailed Allegations of Covert Recording
The lawsuit provides disturbing details about the alleged secret filming. On October 14th, during what should have been a routine pelvic examination, McGraw allegedly pretended to receive a call from a nurse on his phone before placing it in his breast pocket with the camera facing out.
Jane Doe was then asked to remove her pants, with McGraw's phone allegedly capturing "every private, intimate moment and organ" without her knowledge. The lawsuit describes how "Jane Doe's most private boundaries were breached, her dignity stripped away, and her sense of safety shattered."
Just three days later, on October 17th, the Army's criminal investigation division contacted Jane Doe to inform her that McGraw had been secretly filming multiple female patients during their medical appointments. Investigators showed her photos found on McGraw's phone that "unmistakably depicted" her body during the October 14th examination.
According to the legal filing, investigators confirmed that McGraw had recorded nearly the entirety of her final appointment, including both breast and pelvic examinations. They also revealed that McGraw possessed multiple devices containing images and videos of his female patients, though it remains unknown whether this material was shared or published.
Pattern of Alleged Predatory Behaviour
The lawsuit accuses McGraw of a pattern of predatory behaviour dating back to 2019, when he worked at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii. During this period, at least one female patient had filed a complaint against McGraw for recording her pelvic examination on his phone.
Shockingly, the lawsuit alleges that McGraw's superiors dismissed the complaint and "laughed it off", allowing the doctor to continue practising. The legal filing further claims that army leadership had "dismissed the warnings" about McGraw and "laughed off credible allegations" before permitting him to continue seeing patients.
Additional serious allegations include that McGraw induced the labour of a pregnant patient against her explicit wishes, which the lawsuit says "stripped her of the fundamental right to make decisions about her own body."
The legal document also describes inappropriate comments McGraw allegedly made to patients, including telling one woman that her "vagina looks pretty" and commenting to Jane Doe about being able to see "all of her tattoos" or how her breasts "look great" since her "surgeon did a great job."
Legal Defence and Institutional Response
Daniel Conway, McGraw's lawyer, told the Daily Mail that he had "seen no evidence that he's ever touched a patient in a way that was not medically indicated." Conway expressed frustration with how the Army's criminal investigations division was handling the case, suggesting that sending out thousands of letters to former patients was "leading to a lot of misinformation out there."
Conway stated: "I do not think that the evidence is going to support 65 allegations. They've sent out thousands of letters soliciting his former patients, and sometimes in instances when there was no reason to believe that they may have been victims." He emphasised that McGraw has not been charged with any crimes and remains cooperative with investigators.
In an official statement released on October 28th, Fort Hood confirmed that a doctor at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center had been suspended from his position and was no longer providing services to patients. The statement noted that the investigation began "within hours of a patient's allegations" and that officials would be contacting all patients seen by the doctor during his tenure.
Tripler Army Medical Center, where McGraw served as a resident trainee in the gynaecologic surgery and obstetric residency program from June 2019 to June 2023, confirmed they are notifying patients seen by the former resident during that period. Tripler director Col. William Bimson acknowledged: "I know this information is incredibly upsetting to them, and we are here to provide support."
The lawsuit concludes with a powerful statement: "The United States Army itself must answer to these military families—wives and daughters—for the culture of silence and indifference that allowed McGraw's sexual misconduct to thrive behind the shield of its uniform." As the investigation continues, many are calling for greater accountability and reform within military healthcare facilities.
