CBS News/ February 22, 2013, 3:44 PM

Doctor who secretly filmed patients in exam room apologized to wife in suicide note

File photo of Nikita Levy, a former OB/GYN at Johns Hopkins, apolotized to his wife in a suicide note before killing himself in their home. / WJZ

BALTIMORE New details have come to light about the death of an ex-John Hopkins gynecologist who was caught making covert videos of his patients.

Dr. Nikita Levy was found dead in his home on Monday, just two weeks after hospital security was alerted on Feb. 4 by another staff member that Levy was using personal video equipment to tape his patients.

Levy left a suicide note with a message for his wife, saying he did not want to ''see her suffer with the truth'', according to CBS Baltimore WJZ's news partner, the Baltimore Sun.

Levy put the apology note in their car and went to his basement, where he committed suicide.

CBS Baltimore reporter Mike Hellgren spoke to one of Dr Levy's former patients about what it was like in the exam room. The woman, who did not want her identity known, reveals a red flag during exams.

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"When I went for my appointments, there would never be another nurse in there. It would just be him," the former patient said. "He would ask the nurse to leave, or he would say that he had it."

The well-respected doctor's fall from grace happened when it was revealed the gynecologist was spying--even allegedly using a camera on his pen---as he performed exams.

"The story is that a Johns Hopkins employee noticed something unusual about Dr. Levy's examinations on February 4 and alerted a supervisor," said attorney Andrew Slutkin, who represents several former patients. "No one knows at this point what it was other than Hopkins, and they're not speaking about the issue."

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16 Comments Add a Comment

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samXXkiley says:: coucou,
this is disgusting, he has tarnished the medical profession, one thing is certain Dr. Levy Nikita does not have a monopoly on these shameful practices.
"au revoir"; reply

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pammmmmm says:: Horrible, self centered, selfish, selfish man. He puts his wife through that?; reply

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goffredo29 says:

Oh, where to start. First of all, there should be no such thing as a male obgyn, just as there should not be female doctors of male reproductive health (such as certain urologists). It's just an accident waiting to happen, that has happened already. Witness the Akron female pediatrician that "accidently" lopped off the head of a male patient's genitalia while attempting a circumcision. Second, this guy is in a better place. We guys are raised from birth to include suicide as an acceptable life choice. It's why we're required when we're growing up to register for the Selective Service. Face it, we're damned from conception. Best just end it. I love how when I have a sensitive issue to consult with my female doctor about, I always have to have a female nurse present. Even my male doctors always seem reluctant to exclude the female nurse from the examining room. Where ARE all the male nurses? This reminds me of the time a female radiological technician nearly cooked my testicle during an ultrasound (that I would have preferred be done by a male technician) because she was striving so hard to keep me covered up while she performed the ultrasound. Ultimately, I had to help her find what she was looking for. So, come on guys. Sometimes apartheid in the health profession is a good thing.


the0racle replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; thank you Jonathan Quayle Higgins. How about femal cub scout leaders?


ugleyme replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; how can an ultrasound "cook" something?

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estabwary says:: Terrible nursing practice -- it's the law to have a female present for this very sort of thing because abuse has happened in the past. It is not up to the doctor to decide. Those nurses did not look out for those women patients!; reply

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erasmus111 says:

Makes you wonder about having a male doctor. I mean, obviously they aren't all taking videos, but who knows what's going on in their heads?

I'll stick with my woman doctor, thanks. : )


erasmus111 replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; I don't go to an OB/GYN. Here, you don't go to one unless you have problems. I was talking about my family doctor. She isn't a lesbian.


erasmus111 replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; myfreespeech

She's married to a MAN and has a couple of kids.

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ricosu says:: Ok, he got caught and it's a good thing. But it ultimately makes me reflect on the human condition which is very flawed, indeed. You can bet many of those who will aggressively chastise this man(he deserves it) will have sins as egregious-think Clinton adversaries later found to be sinners themselves. This man had to have been talented and almost certainly did a lot of good in his life(compare this to haters who accomplish nothing but spewing hatred). But, oh, the illnesses inside so many of us. This is the reason for rules and regulations. Humans are a flawed bunch!; reply

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ricosu says:: very sad.; reply

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hypnotoad72 says:: That redefines "LaFemme Nikita"... :(

The whole event is tragic...; reply

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leftitbehind says:: He's been there since 1988. There wasn't always the same level of safety awareness. He probably performed prenatal care as well as gyn. Wonder whether others were involved and where the photos/vids ended up. Trying to figure out if I was seen by him, when employed there.; reply

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nohater says:

good that he took his life. save taxpayers money in court proceedings and prison time. it seems he had a bit of honor in him, just a bit.


hypnotoad72 replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; If you say so, but there will still be legal proceedings and other things... You know the hospital is responsible for the actions of its employees...