$190M settlement proposed for gynecologist's sex photography

BALTIMORE, July 21 (UPI) -- Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore has agreed to pay $190 million to thousands of women secretly videotaped by a gynecologist, lawyers said Monday.

The money will settle a class-action lawsuit brought by patients of Dr. Nikita Levy. Levy, who had worked for the Johns Hopkins Community Medicine system since 1988, took his own life on Feb. 18, 2013, 10 days after he was fired.

An investigation began after another doctor became suspicious of a pen Levy always had around his neck -- a pen that turned out to be hiding a camera. Police found 1,200 sexual images of women when they searched Levy's home.

"When learning of Dr. Levy's behavior, our clients were extremely distraught. They felt a great breach of faith and trust. They felt betrayed. Now, with this proposed settlement, we can begin the process of healing our community," Jonathan Schochor and Howard Janet, lawyers for the plaintiffs, said in a statement.

Levy may have abused 12,500 patients during his years at Hopkins, the hospital said. Former patients said that he performed needless pelvic examinations and sometimes performed exams without other medical staff present.