A Kanawha County ( W.Va.) circuit court judge dropped a sexual assault and a sexual abuse count against Charleston, W.Va., gastroenterologist Steven Matulis, MD, the Charleston Gazette-Mail reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. Dr. Matulis is still charged with four counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of first-degree sexual abuse
2. Dr. Matulis allegedly abused and assaulted patients while they were under anesthesia.
3. The victim who brought the dropped accounts wasn't properly identified in court paperwork. The judge ruled Dr. Matulis wouldn't be able to "reasonably defend himself in court," because of the lack of identifying information.
4. In addition to the criminal case, Dr. Matulis is facing at least 15 civil lawsuits from former patient claiming sexual misconduct.