Physician Calls for Accountability After Epstein Files Release

Resident doctor says doctors have an ethical responsibility to condemn abuse and protect victims.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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In an opinion piece, a resident physician at the University of Rochester Medical Center argues that the release of files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has affirmed the widespread abuse of women and girls by the country's elites. The author says physicians have a responsibility to speak up about this injustice, reckon with the Epstein affair, and take a strong stance against abusive behavior, rather than defaulting to deference. The piece cites examples of unethical doctors who have faced little consequence for their actions and calls for the removal of predators from the medical field.

Why it matters

The Epstein case has highlighted how powerful individuals can evade accountability for abusing women and girls, even within professional fields like medicine. As trusted health care providers, physicians have an ethical obligation to condemn such abuse and protect vulnerable patients, rather than staying silent or making excuses.

The details

The author argues that physicians often avoid commenting on polarizing issues due to fears of professional consequences, but they have a responsibility to speak up about the Epstein scandal from an ethics standpoint. The piece cites examples of doctors who have faced little consequence for unethical behavior, including a CBS News correspondent named over 1,700 times in the Epstein files who appears to have maintained a relationship with the sex offender. The author also presents hypothetical cases of medical students engaging in predatory behavior that is dismissed or goes unchecked. The author states that past unethical behavior by doctors is predictive of future misconduct, and that such individuals do not belong in the medical field.

  • In 2008, Epstein was convicted of procuring a minor for sex.
  • The Epstein Files were recently released, affirming widespread abuse by the country's elites.

The players

Chloe Nazra Lee, MD, MPH

A resident physician in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, and the author of the opinion piece.

Peter Attia, MD

A "longevity scientist" who was hired as a CBS News correspondent and was named over 1,700 times in the Epstein files, appearing to have maintained a relationship with the sex offender.

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What they’re saying

“We have an obligation to speak up about this. We treat victims of sexual violence, trafficking, and abuse every day and deal with the fallout from institutional betrayal on a regular basis. We also must consider what happens when one of us is implicated in the abuse. These issues are unequivocally our lane.”

— Chloe Nazra Lee, MD, MPH, Resident Physician (medpagetoday.com)

The takeaway

This case highlights the urgent need for the medical community to take a strong, unwavering stance against abusive behavior and to hold unethical doctors accountable, rather than enabling them to continue practicing. Physicians have an ethical obligation to prioritize patient safety and well-being over protecting the reputations of perpetrators.