In a case that drew wide attention, a Barcelona-based osteopath has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after a trial that established he sexually abused multiple patients under the pretense of medical treatment. The judgment details a pattern of exploitation that used the trust patients placed in him as their healthcare provider, turning routine visits into experiences marked by coercion and inappropriate contact with private parts without consent. The ruling reflects the gravity of the crimes and the impact on those who sought only medical care and relief from discomfort or pain during prenatal and postnatal periods.
According to the decision published by EFE, the eighth section of the Barcelona Court imposed a total term of 42 years in prison on the defendant, Sergi Deputy, for sexual abuse crimes committed against 23 victims. This sentence follows a prosecution request that had sought a cumulative penalty of 111 years, reflecting the seriousness of the offenses, some involving sexual abuse with or without penetration. In addition to imprisonment, the court ordered financial compensation to the victims ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 euros to address the harm caused by the misconduct and to acknowledge the violation of their rights in a professional care setting.
The court described the defendant as a professional who operated both as a private practitioner and within a clinic environment, carrying out his work in Barcelona near the Ronda Sant Pere area and in Sant Cugat del Vallès. It found that during consultations in Barcelona, he pursued a private agenda that had nothing to do with the medical needs of his patients. Instead, he acted with the sole purpose of satisfying his sexual desires, turning clinical spaces into settings for abuse and betrayal of professional trust.
Between the summer of 2013 and the end of 2016, the judge concluded, Sergi Deputy attacked the patients’ autonomy and sexual freedom in a cruelly calculated manner, acting under a veneer of professional practice. The decision emphasizes that the abuse occurred in the context of a relationship of professional trust, where the patients placed confidence in his expertise and his role as a caretaker during vulnerable moments, such as pregnancy and early motherhood. The court noted that his actions exploited this special reliance and the authority afforded by his professional status.
The judgment states that the victims were misled by the extraordinary trust placed in him because of his qualifications as a physiotherapist and his professional appearance. The sequence of acts allegedly involved intimate contact that was unrelated to any legitimate treatment, with one patient reportedly assaulted during multiple visits and others experiencing different forms of sexual contact under the guise of care. The accounts presented at trial described sessions that occurred behind closed doors and in a clinical setting that felt safe to the patients until the abuse came to light.
Even in moments when the patients felt uneasy, many attempted to rationalize the conduct, convincing themselves that the sessions were appropriate within the bounds of professional care and that the physician’s reputation and environment offered protection and legitimacy. The court’s findings indicate that the sense of safety fostered a dangerous space where misconduct could occur unchecked, causing substantial harm to the victims’ sense of bodily autonomy and personal integrity.
The impact of the abuse extended beyond immediate physical harm. Expert testimony heard during the trial highlighted the moral and psychological damage suffered by the victims, underscoring how the violations affected their emotional well-being and sense of security in healthcare settings. The proceedings reflected a broader acknowledgment of how power imbalances in patient-practitioner relationships can be exploited and the long-term consequences for those who are subjected to such violations.
During sentencing, the prosecution sought more severe penalties for multiple counts of sexual abuse, including continuous penetration and other related offenses. The court ultimately handed down a total of 42 years in prison for the defendant, with additional terms reflecting multiple counts of sexual abuse against several women, including periods of ongoing abuse with penetrative acts. The sentence also included terms addressing the broader pattern of harm to the victims, ensuring accountability for the cumulative offenses and recognizing the severity of the abuse experienced by thirteen women and others who testified at trial.
In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered penalties intended to remedy the harm and honor the victims’ rights. The conviction reaffirmed the principle that professional boundaries must be maintained, and that those entrusted with care have a duty to uphold patients’ safety and dignity. The defendant, who had previously retired from active practice, received a sentence that serves as a strong public statement about the consequences of abusing a position of trust within a medical or therapeutic context.
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