Dr. Blaine McGraw pleads not guilty to secretly recording patients

Dr. Blaine McGraw, a U.S. Army gynecologist, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday at the Lawrence Williams Judicial Center in Fort Hood, Texas. He faces nine criminal charges and 273 specifications that allege he secretly video‑recorded patients during examinations between 2021 and 2026. The hearing began after an Army Criminal Investigation Division inquiry opened in October following a patient complaint. The case centers on McGraw’s practice at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, where he treated hundreds of service members and their spouses.

The investigation comes amid a broader push by the Army to address sexual misconduct. In November, the commander of Darnall Medical Center announced that more than 1,400 patients had been notified about the probe. McGraw’s former employer in Hawaii, Tripler Army Medical Center, also informed its patients of the investigation. Army officials say they suspended him immediately after the complaint and are cooperating with the inquiry, while the Army denies that leadership allowed him to continue practicing after earlier complaints.

The charges include 12 counts of sexual assault, 79 of attempted sexual assault, 66 of indecent visual recording, and 91 of assault by battery, according to the court docket. The allegations involve 93 alleged victims, with the original complaint listing 44 patients. A former patient, suing anonymously as Jane Doe, claims McGraw recorded almost the entire exam, including breast and pelvic examinations, without consent. She says there are more victims and that the Army failed to act promptly, a claim the Army disputes.

McGraw’s plea sets the stage for a trial that could last several weeks, with the military judge overseeing the proceedings. The case highlights ongoing concerns about patient privacy and accountability in military medical facilities. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 1‑800‑656‑4673. The investigation will likely prompt the Army to review policies on medical staff conduct and reporting mechanisms.