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Judge To Rule In Oral Surgeon's Assault Case

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Jul 8, 2009 11:10 am US/Eastern

Judge To Rule In Oral Surgeon's Assault Case

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― A verdict is expected today in the case of a Mt. Lebanon oral surgeon who is accused of sexually assaulting patients.

Prosecutors say Dr. Robert Boyda, Junior molested 17 female patients while they were sedated.

During the trial, one of Boyda's former employees testified that she saw some strange things while working at his Scott Township office -- including an incident in a recovery room involving a female patient under sedation.

"The main thing that put me out the door happened when I asked him to sign a paper," Sharon LaRoche testified in May. "The IV line was shaking badly. Her hand was under his lap. His hand was over hers, guiding it underneath his lab coat."

"I was in shock," LaRoche continued. Once Boyda noticed her, LaRoche said he said, "'Get me the gauze! Get me the gauze! She's seizing!'" 

LaRoche told the court that she saw no signs that the patient was having a seizure.

Defense attorney Bill Difenderfer, however, claims the alleged assaults were hallucinations caused by anesthesia.

After the prosecution presented its case, Dr. John Butterworth of the Indiana University School of Medicine Anesthesia Department, testified for the defense to counter the patients' claims.

"Anesthetics have been associated with sexual dreams and hallucinations since general anesthesia was introduced in 1846," he testified.

The judge heard closing arguments last month.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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