A California doctor, Nicholas Vanderhyde, was arrested in June after a hidden camera was allegedly found in the bathroom of his Santa Clarita clinic. Vanderhyde, 40, faces a charge of possession of child pornography, according to a criminal complaint.
The discovery was made on May 8 when a clinic employee found a camera taped to a cabinet and connected to a power bank in the bathroom. The camera was pointed directly at the toilet, aiming to record people using the bathroom. Authorities traced the camera back to Vanderhyde, who was subsequently arrested but has since been released on bail.
Now, 11 families have filed a lawsuit against Vanderhyde and The Joint Chiropractic Clinic, claiming that their privacy was violated. The lawsuit, filed on July 29, includes 17 former patients, four of whom are minors. They allege that Vanderhyde “purposely, strategically, and clandestinely placed” the camera to record patients, including young children, in states of undress.
The lawsuit also claims that The Joint Chiropractic Clinic failed to help patients determine if their images were retained or distributed electronically. It further alleges that the clinic was aware Vanderhyde was a “predator” who employed inappropriate treatment measures but allowed him to continue without investigation.
In a statement, The Joint Chiropractic facility said they would not comment on ongoing legal matters but emphasized that the safety of their patients and staff, along with the integrity of their services, are their highest priorities.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
