New York Doctor Sentenced to 24 Years for Sexual Abuse of Patients

A doctor in New York City has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for sexually abusing patients while they were sedated and for raping women who were unconscious at his residence. Zhi Alan Cheng, 35, admitted to abusing seven women, including three female patients at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.

Cheng pleaded guilty in June to four counts of rape and three counts of sexual abuse. He received his sentence on Thursday. Prosecutors also alleged that he abused an eighth woman, a patient at the hospital, to which Cheng entered an Alford plea. This type of plea allows a defendant to maintain their innocence while acknowledging that there is sufficient evidence for a conviction.

Most of the victims were sedated during the assaults and had no recollection of the incidents. Prosecutors revealed that one woman regained consciousness in the midst of an assault after being sedated for a gastrointestinal procedure.

His criminal activities came to light in 2022 when a female acquaintance discovered a video of Cheng abusing her while she was incapacitated. Following the discovery, authorities executed searches at his home and on his electronic devices, uncovering not only video evidence of his misconduct but also liquid anesthesia.

In light of these findings, Cheng has been permanently barred from practicing medicine. Prosecutors noted that officials from New York-Presbyterian cooperated fully during the criminal investigation, highlighting a commitment to addressing such serious allegations within the healthcare setting.

This case has raised significant concerns about patient safety and the need for stringent measures to protect vulnerable individuals in medical environments. The significant prison sentence reflects the severity of Cheng’s actions and the impact they had on the lives of his victims.