New York City doctor pleads guilty to sexually abusing patients in
hospital
[July 01, 2025]
NEW YORK (AP) — A doctor pleaded guilty Monday to sexually
abusing sedated patients at his New York City hospital and raping women
who were unconscious at his home.
Zhi Alan Cheng admitted to abusing seven women, including three female
patients he was treating at New York-Presbyterian Queens hospital, the
Queens district attorney's office said.
Cheng, now 35, was arrested in 2022 after a female acquaintance
discovered a video of him abusing her at his home while she was passed
out. Searches of his home and devices uncovered video evidence of the
doctor abusing women at his home and workplace, according to
prosecutors. They also discovered liquid anesthesia.
He has remained in jail and has been barred from practicing medicine.
Cheng faces up to 24 years in prison at sentencing, prosecutors said.
“The level of violence and perversion displayed by Zhi Alan Cheng in
sexually abusing multiple victims is compounded by the fact that he took
an oath to do no harm as a medical professional," said District Attorney
Melinda Katz. “I thank the brave victim who initially came forward and
exposed this abuse.”
Prosecutors alleged Cheng abused an eighth woman who was a patient at
the hospital. He entered an Alford plea on that charge, meaning that he
did not admit guilt but acknowledged that prosecutors have enough
evidence to convict them.
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 Most of the victims had no memory of
the abuse and were sedated. One of the women woke up to in the
middle of an assault after she had been sedated for a
gastrointestinal procedure, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors have said that New York-Presbyterian officials
cooperated in the criminal investigation.
“As caregivers, we are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of
our patients. It is a sacred trust. The crimes committed by this
individual are heinous, despicable, and a fundamental betrayal of
our mission and the patients’ trust. We are deeply sorry for all
that the victims and their families have endured,” New
York-Presbyterian hospital spokesperson Angela Karafazli said in a
statement.
Chen's attorney, Jeffrey Einhorn, thanked prosecutors for the plea
agreement and said: “The charges to which Mr. Cheng has pleaded
guilty today are extraordinarily serious."
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