Police, state agency investigating former Sparrow doctor accused of sexual assault

LANSING — A doctor with a prior disciplinary history who is now facing a lawsuit for sexually assaulting a patient is also under investigation by local police and the state agency that licenses medical professionals. 

Dr. John Laurain was sued earlier this year in Ingham County Circuit Court. 

Patient James St. Clair says Laurain repeatedly performed "unnecessary prostate exams without gloves for his own sexual gratification" and regularly "made inappropriate sexual comments and gestures," according to the lawsuit.

You can read the entire lawsuit below.

Until this week, Laurain was listed as working for Sparrow Health System. But following the allegations, the doctor is "no longer employed by Sparrow," spokesperson John Foren said Tuesday morning.

The Lansing Police Department has an active investigation into reports against Laurain, Public Information Officer Robert Merritt said Tuesday. 

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory affairs also is investigating Laurain, who has held a medical license in Michigan for at least 27 years, spokesperson Pardeep Toor said late Tuesday afternoon. 

Laurain faced disciplinary action and was fined by the state agency in 2011.

It was not immediately clear why Laurain was disciplined. Toor said that information would require a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain.

Foren declined to say when Laurain left the health system, but as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Laurain was still listed as a physician at Sparrow Medical Group Lansing Internal Medicine on the Sparrow's website. By noon, his name and picture had been removed.

A State Journal reporter called four numbers that appeared to be associated with Laurain. Three had been disconnected, and another was not answered. The State Journal also could not locate a valid email for Laurain. 

Patient had persisting problem

Laurain was St. Clair's primary physician, according to the complaint. 

In early 2017, St. Clair went for his annual check-up and complained of a rash near his groin, the complaint says. Laurain gave him an antibiotic for acne treatment. 

Five months later, St. Clair went to see Laurain again, this time complaining of severe rectal pain and a burning sensation, the complaint says. 

According to the complaint, Laurain performed a prostate exam without using gloves and noted no issues in St. Clair's file. 

St. Clair returned three times within the next two months with the same complaint, according to court records. 

Two of those times, Laurain again performed a prostate exam without gloves and also failed to take a culture to test for infection, court records say. 

Court records state St. Clair returned again just shy of five months later with persisting pain. During that visit, Laurain again performed a prostate exam without gloves. 

Doctor made 'inappropriate' comments

During "every appointment," Laurain made "inappropriate sexual comments and gestures" to St. Clair, according to the complaint. 

Court records show those comments and gestures included:

• Pointing out his erection to St. Clair. 
• Showing his profile on Grindr, a social networking app for gay men
• Saying "gay men cannot be monogamous."
• Encouraging sexually promiscuous behavior.
• Talking about his own sex life. 
• "Unnecessarily touching (St. Clair's) genitals, prostate, and nipples."

Patient claims doctor 'caused or contributed to' infections

In April 2018, tests finally revealed St. Clair had two infections, the complaint says. 

By not using gloves, Laurain "caused or contributed to (St. Clair's) infections," the complaint states. 

According to the complaint, Laurain intentionally failed to properly treat St. Clair's medical problems so he could do "many unnecessary prostate exams without gloves for his own sexual gratification."

Court records also state Laurain presented the prostate exams as medical treatment despite knowing "the 'treatments' were not proper, appropriate, legitimate and/or considered within the standard of care by any physician of any specialty."

The complaint alleges five counts against Laurain — assault and battery, negligence, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud and misrepresentation.

It also claims Sparrow "had prior knowledge" Laurain was using his position "to commit sexual assault and battery on patients."

Foren said he could not comment beyond a statement released by the health system.

"At Sparrow, the safety and well-being of our Caregivers, Patients and Visitors is our top priority," Foren said in an email Tuesday morning. "We take Patient confidentiality, along with any concerns and allegations raised by any Patient, family member or Caregiver, very seriously." 

Contact reporter Megan Banta at (517) 377-1261 or mbanta@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1.

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