Child Molestation Charges Land Seattle-Area Doc With a Suspended License

<乌鸦传媒 class="mpt-content-deck">— King County physician Lu Gao, MD, was arrested and charged in August

by Jennifer Henderson, Enterprise & Investigative Writer, 乌鸦传媒 December 30, 2022

A photo of the Seattle, Washington skyline at sunset with Mount Rainier in the background.

A King County physician had his license suspended amid allegations of child molestation, the Washington State Department of Health announced earlier this week.

In August, Lu Gao, MD, PhD, was arrested and charged with one count of second-degree child molestation-domestic violence and one count of third-degree child molestation-domestic violence in King County Superior Court, according to an and an online search of court filings.

His credential to practice as a physician and surgeon was suspended on December 21.

Gao is alleged to have "repeatedly had inappropriate physical contact with a minor" from July 2008 to October 2013, a period when the unnamed female was between the ages of 13 and 18, according to the health department's issued in the matter.

The inappropriate conduct allegedly took place in the minor's bedroom. A third party recalled finding pornographic CDs in Gao's drawer with young girls wearing stockings on the cover. Additionally, the Bellevue Police Department is said to have obtained screenshots of messages in which the physician allegedly wrote "inculpatory comments" to another individual, such as "I promise I won't be bad to her," "What happened in the past can't be changed," and "I'm very respectful to her now," the statement of charges detailed.

State Department of Health filings indicated that Gao is currently on electronically monitored house arrest, and he has 20 days to request a hearing to contest the charges and suspension.

A health law judge wrote in a granting the suspension of Gao's license: "Respondent repeatedly violated the trust of the minor who relied on his protection by engaging in sexual contact with her to her detriment. His conduct shows that he is unable to control his deviant sexual desires ... Given the egregious facts, any sanction less restrictive than summary suspension would be inadequate to safeguard the health care public."

At the time of the suspension, Gao's license to practice in Washington state had been active, having been issued in 2017. The Department of Health said that the case had been referred by the Washington Medical Commission.

Gao had most recently worked at Pacific Medical Centers, . Pacific Medical Centers did not immediately respond to 乌鸦传媒's request for comment.

Legal counsel listed for Gao on King County Superior Court's online records search also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jennifer Henderson joined 乌鸦传媒 as an enterprise and investigative writer in Jan. 2021. She has covered the healthcare industry in NYC, life sciences and the business of law, among other areas.