Benton County, AR – A former Rogers eye doctor is facing legal action filed by a patient alleging sexual assault during what was supposed to be a routine eye examination. The civil lawsuit, which was lodged in Benton County Circuit Court on Sept. 19, accuses Dr. Robert Steven Baker of multiple charges including assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to legal documents, the patient, whose specific details have been withheld for privacy, was initially referred to Baker, a neuro-ophthalmologist, due to complications from myasthenia gravis, a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the muscles and the nerves that control them, impairing vision among other bodily functions.
The plaintiff asserts that their ordeal began during a September 2023 appointment at Dr. Baker’s office, which deviated significantly from their initial consultation, conducted in the patient’s home in the presence of her husband, where no inappropriate behavior was reported. It is during the office visit that Baker allegedly asked the patient to undertake various physical positions unnecessary for an eye exam and proceeded to perform unconsented physical evaluations.
Detailed in the complaint, Dr. Baker purportedly requested the patient to remove articles of clothing during this and subsequent visits, under the professed necessity of conducting a more effective examination. In one instance, the lawsuit details, while a female chaperone was present, Baker is said to have blocked the chaperone’s view while instructing the patient to expose herself further and then making physical contact under the guise of medical necessity.
These interactions have purportedly left the patient suffering from severe emotional distress and anxiety, as per the legal documents. The patient reported experiencing confusion and trauma directly resulting from these visits, claiming that Baker exploited his professional position to commit acts of sexual misconduct.
The lawsuit does not list any clinical notes from Baker regarding the examinations, raising questions about the legitimacy of the procedures performed.
Dr. Baker’s medical license was suspended on June 6, 2024, following an emergency order of suspension by the Arkansas State Medical Board, though specifics surrounding the suspension are not publicly disclosed. The licensing records indicate that Baker had been certified in Arkansas since August 2020, with his license originally set to expire on January 31, 2026.
The plaintiff is seeking damages exceeding $75,000, stating that Dr. Baker failed in his professional duty to “possess and apply with reasonable care the degree of skill and learning ordinarily possessed and used by members of his profession.”
Despite attempts, comments from Dr. Baker or his legal representation remain unacquired, leaving the case pending further legal proceedings. The patient maintains hopes for a trial, seeking not only monetary damages but a formal acknowledgment of the alleged abuse.
The unfolding of this lawsuit is likely to add to a broader dialogue on patient safety and the standards of professional conduct expected in medical practice, particularly in specialized fields such as neuro-ophthalmology where patients are particularly vulnerable. As the legal process advances, it may serve as a critical case for the medical community and regulatory bodies alike in examining and reinforcing ethical medical practices.