NY Presbyterian/Dr. Joseph Silverman Sexual Assault Lawsuit

The lawsuit filed by our firm and co-counsel against NY Presbyterian has received news coverage by several major publications in New York and elsewhere.

You can watch the TV coverage of the plaintiff in the lawsuit and our attorney, Karen Barth Menzies, below.

“I can no longer remain silent about what I have faced. As I have watched my children grow up, I began to see myself in them, and that is what has caused me to come forward. Though the pain will never go away, I am fighting to reclaim my story and hold the hospital accountable for their culture of silence and complicity. I hope that by coming forward I can help other women who were also abused by Dr. Silverman to finally share their stories.”

—Susan Kryhoski

Content warning: sexual abuse

The lawsuit alleges as follows:

In 1992, Susan began suffering from an eating disorder at the age of 11. Desperate for answers, her parents turned to internationally-renowned anorexia expert Dr. Joseph A. Silverman, who insisted Susan immediately be hospitalized at Babies Hospital, Columbia-Presbyterian (now known as Morgan Stanley’s Children Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian.)

Dr. Silverman abused Susan at his very first examination of her. He directed her mother to leave the room, and then he forcibly digitally penetrated her, saying he needed to check whether her uterus had been damaged by her eating disorder.

For nearly two months, Dr. Silverman and nurses isolated her at the end of a ward where there were no other anorexia patients. When the other child patients participated in educational activities or enrichment, Susan wasn’t allowed to join.

Multiple times a week, Dr. Silverman would come into the room and force digital penetration and intercourse on Susan. He warned her that if she ever told anyone, he would never let her go home.

NYP Hospital staff repeatedly ignored Susan Kryhoski’s abuse

In response to the abuse, Susan started drawing pictures of Dr. Silverman as a monster with devil horns or red eyes. Unfortunately, instead of reacting to her evident distress with concern, nurses would repeatedly throw the drawings in the trash and scold her for misbehaving.  The nurses never asked her why she didn’t like the doctor or why she wanted to leave.

Her parents repeatedly asked Dr. Silverman for updates on Susan’s treatment and condition, but he refused to give any information or timeline for her release. Frustrated, her parents decided to come to the hospital after nearly two months and took Susan home. The hospital recorded her departure as “AMA”—against medical advice.

Sexual abuse: lifelong impact

After being abused by Dr. Silverman, Susan struggled with self-harming behaviors for the rest of her childhood and repeatedly attempted suicide as a young adult. Today, she manages her PTSD with support and medication from a trauma therapist, allowing her to sleep through the night. Susan is now married with children and has a supportive doctor and therapist on her side.

Pediatrician and anorexia specialist Dr. Silverman practiced virtually his entire career at what was known as Babies Hospital of Columbia-Presbyterian, from his residency in 1958 until his retirement in the mid-1990s. This hospital has had different names and affiliations over time:

• Babies Hospital of Columbia-Presbyterian, until 1994
• Babies Hospital of New York Presbyterian, until 1997
• Babies and Children’s Hospital of New York Presbyterian (CHONY), until 2002
• Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian (MSCH or CHONY), present

In New York, if you are a survivor of child sex abuse—no matter how long ago it occurred—a new law allows you to file a claim and seek compensation for your suffering until August 14, 2021.

If you are seeking legal help, or just want to get more information, get a free and confidential consultation from our law firm by calling 1-866-511-6647.

Usually, the law gives victims of sexual assault only a short window of time to file a lawsuit after the abuse happened. This can be challenging for many survivors because it can take many years to feel able to talk about the abuse with anyone, much less come forward in court.

But as more survivors speak out and raise awareness of their experiences, more states have passed laws giving victims of sexual abuse more time to seek justice. If you are seeking information about your state’s laws, contact our law firm for assistance.

Feedback from Karen’s Clients

“Gibbs Law Group has provided a foundation of safety, trauma-informed support and understanding as I seek to hold my abuser accountable. Working with Karen and Jeff has empowered other survivors and I to stand up against the pervasive rape culture of the music industry.” —Michaela H.

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