Anesthesiologist gets 23 years for abusing patients, coworkers
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THE DALLES, Ore. -- An anesthesiologist in The Dalles has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for sexually abusing a dozen incapacitated patients and coworkers.
The sentence was handed down Tuesday morning, more than a year after Dr. Frederick Field, 46, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of sex abuse and one count of rape.
In all, 12 victims, including coworkers, came forward and said they were abused by Field from 2007 to 2011. The State of Oregon suspended Field’s license after his arrest in August of 2011. He agreed not to contest that suspension.
The prosecutor said that in the abuse cases involving coworkers, Field asked them if they wanted medication to heal a headache or some other ailment. He then took them into a room and administered medication that incapacitated them before they were abused.
Almost all of the alleged incidents happened at the Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles. Prosecutors said many of the women worked with Field and feared losing their jobs if they reported the abuse.
Field did not speak in court on Tuesday, but two victims and the husband of another did make statements.
"I’m only beginning to get a glimpse of the effects this incident has had on my own behaviors and choices in my life," one victim said. "How could this happen? How could this man damage other women’s lives … and how is it possible that this was allowed to happen?"
"I panicked at the thought of getting under anesthesia again and becoming so vulnerable once again."
Another victim found solace in the doctor's guilty pleas.
"I am only secure in the knowledge that you are finally where you deserve to be: Judged and held accountable for your reprehensible actions," the victim said. "You will be as powerless as you mistakenly and arrogantly believed I once was."
Beginning in 2005, Field worked as an anesthesiologist at the Mid-Columbia Medical Center, the main hospital in The Dalles.
Field was arrested on July 28, 2011, after two victims came forward alleging he'd sexually assaulted them while they were incapacitated. One of them said she was victimized in February of 2011, another in 2007.
The allegations from all the victims go back as far as 2007 and are as recent as 2011.
In all the cases, Field was accused of touching the womens' genitals as well as forcing victims to touch his genitals, all while they were under anesthetic.
Some of the victims said they woke up as Field touched them and that’s how they knew what had happened. Others said they thought their memories were dreams until Field was arrested and they realized the abuse had really happened.
After sentencing, Field's mother, Joan Field, claimed all but one of the incidents were consensual.
She also complained that Field could not get a fair trial in Wasco County. A change of venue request for the trial by Field's legal team was denied.
A request to give Field's posted bail money to victims was denied by the judge.
Field is married and has two young children. Once he completes his sentence, he will have to register as a sex offender.
He has a choice, he can either be he new plaything in the cell block or be known as Hand Job Bob.
It was 'consensual' while they were under anesthesia? Yeah....ok
Man I can't stand this Tomlinson lady's voice. We're lucky this isn't a feel good story, otherwise we would be baby talked in that gravely voice of hers.
Joan fields you need to get off the river of denial and of all things to make the pain worse for the victims and his wife and children... SHAME ON YOU...Its one thing to love your child unconditionally but dont try and make victims out to not be victims....You should be ashamed of yourself for making that statement. Inncocent people dont please gulity to such a horrifc crime if they are not guilty. This maybe a smallt town but there are lots and lots of honest people in this town that do what is right and that is follow the law. If he was so innocent why did he not go to trial. Come on get your boat off the river of denial and tell the victims your sorry what happened to them. Maybe this is not the son you have ever known but he knew what he was doing and made a choice.Â
Did he get his head stuck in a vise? Aspect ratio maybe? And throw away the key.
This anesthesiologist sounds to me like he was completely numb to his victim's discomfort.
 @Mikey Rimshot!
Consensual, lets see.... how is that accomplished with a sedated patient at a hospital? Tell your family whatever you need them to believe. Im not so sure your cellmate "Tiny" will be as gullible!Â
what a waste ; spent thousands going to medical school--a great career, and throws it all away by doing something as sick and perverted as this.....truly sad.
Joan Field needs to take off her rose colored glasses and tin foil hat!
If I found out my Son was a Rapist/Predator I would probably kill him myself. The only right thing to do even if most people do not have the guts to admit it.
The Dalles should just have its own reality show.
How the heck would his mom know if the incidents were consensual? Was she there? Besides, even if it was "all but one", one rape is still too many.
ahhhh, another pervert/inmate, only a mother (if she's a sick freak, too) could defend/love. Â have fun taking your grandchildren to visit their scumbag dad in prison.
Smart enough to get through medical school but too stupid to control his own behavior. Well, now he has 23 years to think about it and there will be nothing left for him when he gets out.Â
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It's too bad so many others who commit crimes as bad or worse don't get near the same length of term.
"Field is married and has two young children." Â (from the story)
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Bet his wife is real proud of him... and how the heck to you explain where Daddy is to 2 little kids  - and why he's where he is..???   IMO, beyond disgusting...
 @margay1 His wife, like his mother, probably believes this are made-up charges and he was framed.Â
@margay1 "He's on vacation"!! (apologies to Forest Gump)
This guy only got 5 years. I guess he should have been tried in The Dalles.
http://topics.oregonlive.com/tag/lannie%20haszard/index.html
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How can someone get 24 years when a drunk driver who kills someone only gets 5 years? It seems that the system is screwed up. Even criminally negligent homicide will only get someone 4-6 years.
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 @RalphCramden A) Intent would be a key factor.
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B) Crimes against women were under-prosecuted for many years, and now the pendulum has swung the other way to almost an inordinate amount of prosecution..
 @UtterRealityÂ
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I have no tolerance for crimes against women or children. Actually I have little tolerance for crimes against anyone for that matter.
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I wish prison was much harder than it is and people would fear going there. As it is prisons in Europe and the US are not all the much of a deterrent.
@RalphCramden Exactly. Our "justice system" is not just and sentencing is unfairly applied. Unfortunately our "mandatory sentencing" laws (measure 11) dont work much better. I am not sure what the answer is but something should change.
 @scared_citizenÂ
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I think about this stuff and really don't have an answer or solution. It's all based on locality from what I can see. Liberal enclaves are more lenient that conservative areas which generally give a lot more time in the slammer.
Don't drop the soap while in prison.
This is a great sentence if Bubba gets to go nuts on his backdoor for 23 years....Just sayin....