Doctor charged with sexual assault of male patient

BRIDGEPORT — A physician at Bridgeport Hospital has been charged with sexually assaulting a patient who went to him to see if he was healthy enough to have a tooth pulled.

Police said Dr. Louie Gangcuangco, instead of listening to the man’s heart, grabbed hold of his genitals and pinched his nipples.

The doctor then asked the patient if he wanted to go out to Red Lobster, police.

Gangcuangco, 29, was charged with fourth-degree sexual assault. He was released after posting $75,000 bond pending arraignment in Superior Court on Jan. 5.

“Upon being made aware of this issue by the police we immediately placed the resident on administrative leave,” said Bridgeport Hospital Spokesman John Cappiello. “Protecting patients is our primary mission. This accusation, if true, is inexcusable and absolutely inconsistent with all of our values. We continue to cooperate fully with local law enforcement officials in their investigation of the matter.”

Gangcuangco is a third-year resident at the hospital. He is a graduate of the University of the Philippines and previously worked at the Hawaii Center for AIDS. He is also a best-selling author, according to several online biographies. His novel, “Orosa-Nakpil, Malate,” is described as the story of a young medical student who “meets men who entangle him in a web of love, vengeance and sex.”

Police said the 53-year-old alleged victim, who previously had open-heart surgery at the hospital, told them he had gone to the Bridgeport Hospital Clinic to be examined prior to having his wisdom tooth pulled.

The man related that Gangcuangco first asked him a series of health-related questions and then escorted him to an examining room, where the doctor asked the man to pull up his shirt so he could listen to his heart, police said.

“The doctor then unbuttoned his jeans and unzipped his zipper and (the alleged victim) just figured the doctor wasn’t done with the examination,” the police report states.

But when the doctor went further, police said, the man protested and Gangcuangco “smiled at him and he walked away. Dr. Gangcuangco opened up the curtain, washed his hands and walked out.”

Police said the victim told them Gangcuangco later called him to find out how the tooth extraction went. He then offered to take the man out to a 99 Restaurant, police said.

When the victim to Gangcuangco he wasn’t interested, police said the doctor responded: “How about Red Lobster?”