Magazine is forced to apologize after including OB-GYN David Broadbent in their 'Best Of' issue (despite him being accused of sexually assaulting over 100 women)
- Dr. David Broadbent has been accused of sexually abusing over 120 women
- The Utah Valley Magazine included his practice as part of their 'Best Of' issue
A Utah magazine has been forced to apologize after including an OB-GYN accused of sexually assaulting over 100 women in their 'Best Of' issue.
The Utah Valley Magazine had included Dr. David Broadbent, as part of their latest edition which included readers favorites in the area.
The magazine had invited readers to vote for their favorites across a number of categories.
The obstetrician gynecologist, who has been accused by over 120 women of sexual abuse during medical exams, won the category in fertility.
He is alleged to have abused and battered women while examining them and preyed upon them for sexual pleasure, even moaning while doing it some cases.
Stephanie Mateer, who is one of those who has accused Broadbent, said she had lost sleep and a hard time focusing after seeing him on the list
Over 120 women have come forward alleging misconduct, with 94 taking part in a lawsuit against Broadbent and two of the hospitals he worked in.
Stephanie Mateer, who is one of those who has accused Broadbent, told the Salt Lake Tribune she had lost sleep and a hard time focusing after seeing him on the list.
The list had reopened old wounds, forcing her to remember when a person who knew Broadbent had called her and branded her a liar.
Speaking to the outlet earlier this week, Mateer said: 'There is no situation in which this isn't painful.'
Recounting what had happened to her last year to the outlet, Mateer said: 'He had me put on a gown and reached up the gown and did a breast exam.
'It was not like flat palm, it was grabby. He then proceeded to do a vaginal exam without any warning.
'I was more shocked when he proceeded to do a rectal exam without any warning, it was super painful and really aggressive. As he was finishing up he said, 'well your husband is a lucky man'.'
Mateer also said that the magazine's decision to include him in the list highlighted how Utah licensers had not revoked his license, despite the claims.
Brooke Heath, another plaintiff in the same lawsuit, told the outlet this week that his name being included was a 'slap in the face'
Broadbent, who has been accused by over 120 women of sexual abuse during medical exams, won the category in fertility
The Utah Valley Magazine had included Dr. David Broadbent as part of their latest edition which included readers favorites in the area
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the magazine had invited readers to vote for their favorites across a number of categories
Broadbent was allowed to enter into a 'non-disciplinary' stipulation where he voluntarily agreed to stop seeing patients for the moment.
She added: 'The fact that Utah has not revoked his licensed after hundreds of women have accused him of sexual assault is appalling.'
Brooke Heath, another plaintiff in the same lawsuit, told the outlet this week that his name being included was a 'slap in the face'.
Heath added that she did appreciate how quickly the publication had gone about responding to the problem.
She said: 'I am really impressed with the strong women that we have in our case. That are bold enough to express their concerns, even in spite of all the times we've been shut down. To say, enough is enough.'
Heath has alleged that Broadbent groped her, previously telling KJZZ: 'He continued to grope me in a way that is not definitely not consistent with a normal breast exam.'
A judge ruled in September of 2022 that the lawsuit fell under medical malpractice law instead of a civil sexual assault claim.
Broadbent was allowed to enter into a 'non-disciplinary' stipulation where he voluntarily agreed to stop seeing patients for the moment
Editor Jeanette Bennett said in a statement that including him in the list had led to a 'difficult learning lesson'.
Bennett said staff had checked to see if his license hadn't been revoked in the state after he received enough votes to make the top three.
She said: 'We chose not to alter the votes, and we let the results stand. We have now heard from many women involved in the lawsuit.
'Their stories are heart-wrenching. We are particularly sorry that our Best Of results added to their sorrows.
'This is one case in which we should have set the data aside and disregarded our readers' votes.'
Bennett said they would issue an apology in their next printed edition and have posted a retraction on their social media.
Despite the suit and reports made to police, Broadbent has not yet been charged with a crime and categorically denies all of the allegations against him.
Broadbent, the Utah Valley Hospital and Intermountain Healthcare are the defendants in the case. They have all asked a judge to dismiss the suit.
