Bill > H4350

This bill amends the Massachusetts General Laws to criminalize sexual assault by fraud of a medical professional. The key provisions include: 1. Expanding the definition of "indecent assault and battery" and "rape" to include acts committed by health care providers against their patients or clients, where the patient or client is deemed incapable of consenting if the act was procured by false representation that it was for a legitimate medical or treatment purpose. 2. Establishing a new crime of "indecent assault and battery on a patient or client by a health care provider," punishable by up to 5 years in state prison or 2.5 years in a house of correction. 3. Establishing a new crime of "rape of a patient or client by a health care provider," punishable by up to 20 years in state prison. 4. Expanding the statute of limitations for these new crimes to align with existing sexual assault offenses. The intent of this bill is to protect vulnerable patients from sexual exploitation by their medical providers, even if the patient initially consented, by deeming such consent invalid if obtained through fraud or deception.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on the Judiciary (J)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4350