Upper Darby doctor indecently assaulted patients, police say

UPPER DARBY, Pa. (WPVI) -- An Upper Darby medical doctor allegedly fondled two female patients, and now police want to know if there are more patients that have been victimized.

Dr. Brij Srivastava, 82, of Media, is charged with two counts of indecent assault.

Upper Darby police said in recent months two of his patients called to report the doctor had touched them inappropriately while they were getting a physical here at his office in the 400 Block of Long Lane in Upper Darby.

"Both are very, very credible," said Upper Darby Police Supt. Michael Chitwood. "Both are very legitimate. So for them to be put in fear of the violation of trust - I mean you trust your doctor. Someone who's going to do a physical exam."

The first victim told police on July 3 Doctor Srivastava reached up under her shirt and fondled her while talking to her inappropriately for a physical. The 25-year-old pushed him away and called police. Earlier this month, a 52-year-old patient contacted police to report that the doctor fondled her chest during a physical.

"She pushes him away and he whispers in her ear, 'Mmm... I like it.' She then panics. Goes out of the office. Pushes him away," said Chitwood. "As she goes out of the office, she sees the receptionist and says 'he's got a problem' and keeps walking out."

Rowena Faulk, a patient of Dr. Srivastava, called police after hearing what the two women alleged. She started to rethink her encounters with the physician.

"He would always be like really close. I am telling you it was really inappropriate," said Faulk. "He's old. And maybe he doesn't realize. He's 80 something, it's not like he's young. You don't think he's being fresh, but it was uncomfortable. It was uncomfortable. Every time I would come back and say was it me? Now I know it wasn't me."

We went to the doctor's home in Media. At first, a woman first told us he was there, but then a man's voice shouted from inside, telling us to go away.

"My concern is are there other victims out there?" said Chitwood. "Obviously when you deal with an issue like this there are always other victims."

Police want to hear from anyone who also feels they might have been victimized.

Dr. Strivastava does have another office in North Philadelphia. He works at the Upper Darby location in the morning and in North Philadelphia in the afternoon.

He surrendered to police with his attorney this morning. Bail was set at 10 percent of $50,000, which he posted and was released.

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