Pediatric Urologist Accused of Secretly Photographing Young Patients During Medical Procedures as 13 Families File Lawsuit

A former pediatric urologist in Ohio is facing serious allegations after the families of 13 children filed a lawsuit accusing him of photographing young patients’ genitals during medical examinations and procedures without legitimate medical reasons. The lawsuit names Dr. Bryan Shanley Sack, a former chief of pediatric urology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Toledo, along with two hospital systems. The families allege that images taken during sensitive medical procedures were stored in Sack’s personal cloud account alongside thousands of files involving children.

According to the complaint, Sack allegedly used his cellphone to photograph or record children during examinations and surgical procedures. Some of the patients were infants and toddlers, and the lawsuit describes situations in which children were undressed, separated from their parents, or under anesthesia. The families claim the images went beyond what was medically necessary and that the doctor improperly transferred sensitive patient material to personal devices and online storage.

The lawsuit cites findings described in an FBI affidavit involving Sack’s Dropbox account. Investigators reportedly identified more than 27,000 files involving children, including 1,291 files that allegedly met the federal definition of child pornography, as well as thousands of other files described as potentially exploitative or age-difficult material. The account reportedly contained more than 850 gigabytes of data, including images and videos of pediatric medical procedures. The allegations have raised serious questions about how sensitive medical images were accessed, stored, and protected.

Sack was arrested in February 2026 following an investigation prompted by a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He was later charged in federal court with receiving and possessing child pornography. He has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges, and his federal trial is scheduled for January 12, 2027. Nationwide Children’s Hospital said Sack was terminated following his arrest and is no longer affiliated with the institution. The hospital had previously stated that the criminal charges were not related to his clinical work.

The civil lawsuit also accuses the hospitals of failing to adequately protect young patients. The families allege that safeguards were insufficient to prevent unauthorized photography, the use of personal phones during sensitive examinations, and the transfer of clinical images to personal accounts. They further claim the institutions failed to properly supervise Sack and respond to warning signs. The hospitals are among the defendants, and these allegations have not yet been proven in court.

The 13 families are seeking financial compensation, counseling for affected children and their relatives, and an independent review of the images and records Sack may have accessed. They also want the hospitals to notify every patient he treated and take steps to identify, preserve, and recover any patient images still in his possession. The lawsuit could potentially expand to include a much larger group of former patients. For the families involved, the central concern is not only accountability for the alleged conduct, but also finding out how many children may have been affected and ensuring that no other family is left without answers.

Source: https://people.com/pediatric-doctor-accused-photographing-patients-genitals-with-phone-during-medical-procedures-lawsuit-12242479