IVF Doctor Sexual Assault

IVF and fertility care involve more intimate exams than most medical treatment, so patients place a great deal of trust in their doctors. Medical guidance says every exam should be explained, done only with consent, and limited to the contact the care requires. When a doctor crosses that line, it may be sexual misconduct or sexual assault, even if it happened in an exam room. In November 2026, a New Jersey prosecutor announced charges against fertility specialist Dr. Jerome Check, who denies them. An IVF doctor sexual assault lawyer can help you understand what happened to you and what options you may have.

What is IVF doctor sexual assault?

IVF doctor sexual assault is sexual contact or sexual behavior by a fertility doctor toward a patient that is not part of legitimate care or was done without the patient's consent. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) calls sexual misconduct by physicians an abuse of professional power and a violation of patient trust3.

ACOG uses two categories from the Federation of State Medical Boards. Sexual impropriety covers sexually suggestive or demeaning words, gestures and behavior. Sexual violation covers physical sexual contact with a patient. ACOG adds that a breast or genital exam done without proper consent counts as sexual misconduct under both categories3. Examples can include:

• Touching of the breasts or genitals that was not explained or not needed for care
• An invasive exam during a visit you were told was only a consultation
• An exam that continued after you asked the doctor to stop
• Sexual comments, questions or jokes unrelated to treatment
• Photos or video taken without your consent
• Personal messages, gifts or requests for secrecy

Patients often second-guess themselves because fertility care already involves many internal exams. That doubt is common. A legal review does not ask you to label what happened. It looks at what was said, what was done and what the records show.

Where the charges against Dr. Jerome Check stand

On November 2, 2026, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw announced that Dr. Jerome Check, an 80-year-old reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist from Melrose Park, Pennsylvania, had been charged with three counts of second-degree sexual assault1. These are criminal charges. They are accusations, not findings, and Dr. Check is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

What prosecutors have said

The charges

Three counts of second-degree sexual assault, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor1.

Where and when

Prosecutors allege the incidents happened during appointments at his Mount Laurel, New Jersey, office between December 2024 and March 202512.

The allegations

Prosecutors allege he was alone with the three patients in the exam room. They say two patients expected appointments for information only, not the invasive exam he allegedly said was needed1.

The response

His attorney told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he is innocent and disputed the allegations and the evidence1.

Key dates in the case

1. December 2024 to March 2025

   The period in which prosecutors allege three patients were sexually assaulted during appointments in Mount Laurel1.

2. September 2026

   Dr. Check was taken into custody and released after an appearance in Superior Court in Mount Holly, according to the prosecutor1.

3. November 2, 2026

   The Burlington County Prosecutor announces the three charges and asks anyone with information to contact the Special Victims Unit12.

4. November 2, 2026

   Cooper Norcross Health says Dr. Check is not its employee and that it has suspended all of his affiliations effective immediately1.

If you were a patient of Dr. Check and something about an appointment troubles you, you can tell us about it whether or not you decide to contact investigators. You can also reach the prosecutor's Special Victims Unit at 609-265-50351. Our IVF and fertility treatment injuries overview covers other kinds of fertility-care harm.

Intimate exams that are part of IVF

Some internal exams are a normal part of fertility treatment. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) describes several5:

• Vaginal ultrasound exams to watch the follicles grow during ovarian stimulation
• Egg retrieval, where an ultrasound probe is placed in the vagina and a needle collects eggs from the ovaries
• Embryo transfer, where the doctor uses a speculum to find the cervix and passes a thin catheter into the uterus
• Pelvic exams and other tests during evaluation and treatment

Because these steps are routine, the question is how they were done. ACOG's ethics guidance describes what appropriate care looks like3:

• The exam is explained before it starts
• It happens only with the patient's consent
• Physical contact is limited to what is needed for diagnosis and treatment
• Draping is used to limit exposure
• A chaperone is present for breast, genital and rectal exams, including transvaginal ultrasound
• The patient can refuse any exam or procedure
• Photos or video require the patient's consent

ACOG's patient guidance adds that the doctor should ask permission before touching you, talk you through each step, and stop when you ask4. Our page on egg retrieval injuries explains that procedure in more detail.

Warning signs to raise with an IVF doctor sexual assault lawyer

No single sign proves misconduct, and a painful exam is not the same as an assault. ACOG notes that pelvic exams can be uncomfortable and can be triggering for survivors of sexual abuse4. These are reasons to ask questions:

• You were alone with the doctor for an internal exam, with no chaperone offered
• The exam was not explained, or it was different from what you were told
• You were not asked for permission before you were touched
• The touching went beyond what the procedure seemed to need
• The doctor kept going after you asked to stop
• You were sedated and something about the procedure does not add up
• Your records do not mention an exam you remember

Write down what you remember, including what was said before, during and after. Note anyone else in the room and whether you raised a concern with staff. If a detail is uncertain, say so.

How sexual misconduct during fertility care can affect you

The harm can reach well beyond one appointment:

• Fear, anxiety or trouble sleeping, and in some people post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)13
• Health concerns such as sexually transmitted infections after a sexual assault6
• Avoiding or stopping fertility treatment, or switching clinics mid-cycle
• Lost time on treatment, which can matter a great deal in fertility care
• The cost of counseling, new medical care and repeated treatment
• Strain on relationships and trust in medical care

Support is available. If you have symptoms or concerns, an independent doctor or counselor can help, and you can ask any new provider to explain each exam before it starts.

Who may have an IVF doctor sexual assault claim

Any fertility patient who was touched sexually, examined without consent or subjected to sexual behavior by a provider may want a review. That includes IVF patients, egg donors, people seen for infertility testing and patients of a gynecologist or reproductive endocrinologist. A sexual assault attorney will usually consider:

• What you were told the visit or procedure would involve
• What happened, in your own words
• Who was in the room and whether a chaperone was offered
• Whether you were sedated
• What the medical records and consent forms say
• How the experience has affected you
• Where it happened and which state's law applies

Who may be responsible

The person who committed the misconduct is responsible for their own conduct. A civil claim may also look at others, depending on the facts and state law:

• The doctor or provider
• The fertility practice or clinic that employed or scheduled the provider
• A hospital or health system, depending on its relationship with the provider and what it knew
• Supervisors who received complaints and did not act
• Staff responsible for chaperone policies

An affiliation is not the same as responsibility. A health system that granted privileges may or may not share liability. That depends on what it knew, when, and what it did. Our page on doctor sexual abuse explains how chaperones, credentialing and medical boards fit in.

Reporting a fertility doctor's conduct

You can report to more than one place, and reporting is your choice. Each office has a different role:

• Police or the county prosecutor handle possible crimes
• The state medical board reviews a doctor's license. In New Jersey, the Board of Medical Examiners handles complaints about physicians8
• New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs explains what to expect when filing a sexual misconduct complaint against a licensed professional9
• The clinic or hospital may have its own patient complaint process

Keep a copy of anything you submit and any confirmation number. A lawyer can help you decide what to share and when.

Filing deadlines for an IVF doctor sexual assault lawsuit

Deadlines vary by state and can depend on your age at the time, the type of defendant and when you understood the harm. In New Jersey, the state Supreme Court has explained that a 2019 law gives adult survivors of sexual abuse seven years from the date they discover the injury, and gives survivors of childhood abuse until age 55 or seven years from discovery, whichever is later10. Claims against a public hospital or other public entity can involve extra notice rules10.

Other states set different deadlines. A criminal case does not mean a civil deadline has been met. Asking early protects your options.

Tell Us Your Story →

Records that help an IVF doctor sexual assault claim

You do not need everything at once. A lawyer can request records for you. These are the records a review often uses:

Records to gather

Your own notes

• A dated account of what you remember
• Names or descriptions of anyone in the room
• Who you told afterward, and when

Clinic records

• Appointment confirmations and visit notes
• Consent forms for exams and procedures
• Ultrasound and procedure reports
• Sedation or anesthesia records

Messages and bills

• Patient-portal messages, emails and texts
• Bills and explanation-of-benefits statements
• Any complaint you made to the clinic

Do not throw anything away

Keep original messages and files. Do not edit them to make them clearer. Explain the context in a separate note.

Federal privacy law generally gives you the right to see and get a copy of your medical and billing records. A provider can charge a reasonable copying fee but cannot refuse because you owe money. If you think a record is wrong, you can ask for a correction7.

Criminal charges and a civil sexual assault lawsuit

A criminal case is brought by the government and can lead to prison. The prosecutor must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt11. A civil lawsuit is brought by the survivor and seeks money for the harm. It usually uses a lower standard, the preponderance of the evidence12. The two can go forward at the same time or separately, and one does not decide the other.

What happens after you contact an IVF doctor sexual assault attorney at CBW Law

How a review works

1. You tell us what happened

   Share what you remember and the questions you have. Approximate dates are fine.

2. We gather the records

   With your permission, we request records from the clinic and any other provider involved.

3. We review the facts

   We compare your account with the records and the law in the state where it happened.

4. We explain your options

   We tell you what we found, what questions remain and what deadlines apply.

Needing fertility care never means giving up the right to say no, or to ask what a doctor is doing.

Plain English

Medical, Health & Insurance

Fertility and medical records use technical terms. These are some you may see.

Fertility procedures

Transvaginal ultrasound

An ultrasound done with a probe placed in the vagina, used to monitor the ovaries during IVF5.

Egg retrieval

Collecting eggs from the ovaries with an ultrasound-guided needle5.

Embryo transfer

Placing an embryo in the uterus through a thin catheter passed through the cervix5.

Reproductive endocrinologist

A doctor who specializes in fertility and reproductive hormones.

Exam safeguards

Chaperone

A trained staff member, usually a nurse or medical assistant, present during a sensitive exam4.

Draping

Covering the body during an exam to limit exposure3.

Informed consent

Agreeing to an exam or procedure after it has been explained. You can refuse any exam3.

Care after an assault

Medical forensic exam

An exam after a sexual assault that can treat injuries and collect evidence, done under state and local rules6.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Stress or fear that lasts long after a traumatic event and gets in the way of daily life13.

Records and insurance

Right of access

Your federal right to see and copy your medical and billing records7.

Amendment request

A request to correct information in your medical record7.

Explanation of benefits (EOB)

A health plan statement showing what was billed, paid and owed.

Questions

Frequently asked IVF doctor sexual assault questions

Short answers to the questions fertility patients ask.

How do I know whether an exam was medical care or sexual assault?

It is not always clear on your own. Medical guidance says exams should be explained, done with consent and limited to the contact needed for care3. If an exam was not explained, went beyond what you expected, or continued after you asked to stop, an IVF doctor sexual assault lawyer can help you sort through what happened.

Can sexual assault happen during a legitimate procedure?

Yes. ACOG says a breast or genital exam done without proper consent counts as sexual misconduct3. A procedure being medically necessary does not make every touch during it appropriate.

Was Dr. Jerome Check convicted?

No. As of November 2026, he has been charged with three counts of second-degree sexual assault, and his attorney says he is innocent1. A charge is an accusation. He is presumed innocent unless the charges are proven in court.

I was a patient of Dr. Check. Should I contact a lawyer?

Only if you have questions about your own care. Many patients have said they had good experiences with him2. If something about an appointment concerns you, an IVF doctor sexual assault attorney can listen and explain your options. Contacting us does not commit you to anything.

Do I need to report to the police before filing an IVF doctor sexual assault lawsuit?

No. A civil claim is separate from a criminal case. You can report, choose not to report, or decide later. A lawyer can explain how each choice affects your claim.

What if I was sedated and don't remember everything?

Write down what you do remember and what seemed wrong afterward. Records from the procedure, sedation and recovery can help fill gaps. You do not need a complete memory to ask for a review.

Can the clinic or hospital be part of an IVF doctor sexual assault lawsuit?

Sometimes. It depends on the relationship between the doctor and the clinic or hospital, what they knew, and what they did about it. An affiliation alone does not make a hospital responsible.

How long do I have to file an IVF doctor sexual assault lawsuit?

It depends on the state. In New Jersey, adult survivors generally have seven years from discovering the injury10. Other states differ, and public entities can have shorter notice rules. Ask early.

Will my name become public?

Many survivors worry about this. Some courts allow a survivor to use initials or a pseudonym. An IVF doctor sexual assault attorney can explain the options where your case would be filed.

Does contacting CBW Law mean I am filing a lawsuit?

No. Telling us your story starts a conversation. It does not create an attorney-client relationship, and you decide what happens next.

Tell Us Your Story

If a fertility doctor touched you sexually, examined you without a clear explanation, or crossed a professional line, you can ask questions without having all the answers.

Tell us what happened at a fertility clinic, including with Dr. Check or any other provider. We will listen and explain what a claim review could involve.

Tell Us Your Story →Call (800) 476-2416

This page is general information about sexual misconduct during IVF and fertility care. It is not legal or medical advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Criminal charges are accusations, not findings of guilt, and anyone charged is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. An uncomfortable exam, a failed cycle or a complication does not, by itself, establish that anyone acted wrongfully. No outcome can be promised in any case.