At Merson Law, we have represented countless survivors of sexual abuse by doctors, hospitals, and trusted institutions. Our founding partner Jordan Merson and our experienced legal team are currently reviewing cases related to Dr. Cheng. If you were victimized, get in touch with the team at Merson Law today for a free consultation, you may be owed compensation.
On August 28, 2025, former NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens gastroenterologist Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng was sentenced in Queens Supreme Court to a lengthy prison term for raping and sexually assaulting multiple women, including patients under his medical care.
Prosecutors revealed that Cheng recorded hundreds of videos of unconscious victims, demonstrating a long-term pattern of predatory abuse. His conviction and sentencing mark one of the most serious cases of doctor sexual assault in New York history.
This outcome provides a measure of justice in the criminal courts. However, for survivors, the criminal case is only one part of the legal process. Victims of Dr. Cheng may still have the right to pursue civil lawsuits against Cheng and the hospital that employed him for:
Negligent hiring, supervision, and retention
Institutional failures that allowed the abuse to continue
Financial compensation for pain, suffering, and lifelong trauma
Cheng’s prison sentence does not block victims from filing civil lawsuits.
Survivors may still come forward confidentially, even years after the abuse.
Civil cases can hold hospitals and institutions accountable for their role in enabling abuse.
If you or a loved one were harmed by Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, it is not too late to seek justice.
Yes. Dr. Cheng’s prison sentence does not affect a survivor’s right to pursue a civil lawsuit. Civil cases are separate from criminal proceedings and allow victims to seek financial compensation and hold hospitals accountable for failing to protect patients.
Potentially, yes. Hospitals can be held responsible under New York law for negligent hiring, supervision, and failing to act on warning signs. If the hospital ignored red flags or failed to protect patients, it may share legal liability.
Survivors may be entitled to compensation for emotional trauma, medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded to punish egregious misconduct.
New York has extended the statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases, and there may be additional legal options depending on the facts. Even if the abuse happened years ago, survivors should speak with an attorney to understand their rights.
Not necessarily. At Merson Law, we take confidentiality very seriously. Survivors can often pursue civil claims with protective measures that safeguard their identity.
In Dececmber of 2022, the Queens district attorney’s office secured a first-degree rape indictment alleging Dr. Cheng used a K-N95 mask filled with cotton balls that had been soaked in an unknown liquid to render a female victim unconscious in his apartment. When she woke up, she allegedly found the video of her own sexual assault. Cheng is currently awaiting trial, held without bond on Rikers Island.
Police said they found multiple videos of Cheng sexually abusing other victims, including the patient.
This not the first time the DA has sued New York-Presbyterian on behalf of people who were sexually assaulted by the hospital staff.
In 2021, Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian came to a $71.5 million settlement with 79 women who were former patients of former gynecologist Robert Hadden, who was convicted this year of sexually assaulting his patients.
