A leading US medical school will pay $202.7 million to patients of a gynaecologist who secretly photographed and videotaped them in his office, lawyers say.
At least 8,500 women are part of a class action involving the Johns Hopkins University and physician Nikita Levy, who took his life in February 2013.
Levy, a longtime women’s community health physician on Johns Hopkins’ staff, used a camera hidden inside a pen, among other surveillance devices, to secretly record his patients.
There were also allegations of “boundary violations”, lawyers said.
In a statement, lawyers Jonathan Schochor and Howard Janet said a proposed settlement of $202.7 million had been approved by the Baltimore City Circuit Court.
“When learning of Dr Levy’s behaviour, our clients were extremely distraught. They felt a great breach of faith and trust. They felt betrayed,” the lawyers for the plaintiff said.
“Now, with this proposed settlement, we can begin the process of healing our community.”
Levy committed suicide in his home two weeks after the allegations against him first surfaced. He was 54.
He left a farewell letter to his wife as well as computer hardware, which, according to police at the time, contained an “extraordinary amount of evidence.”
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is widely regarded as one of the top medical schools in the United States.
Reuters