New Hyde Park oncologist Dr. Mark Hoffman sued by 2 former patients for alleged sexual misconduct

Two former patients of New Hyde Park oncologist Dr. Mark Hoffman, charged earlier this year with sexually abusing a female patient during a routine examination, have each accused the physician of sexual misconduct during their breast cancer treatments, a pair of lawsuits filed Monday contends.

The suits, which name Hoffman and his then-employer, Optum Medical Care, say the medical practice received a complaint about the doctor’s alleged sexual misconduct but "took no steps" to correct it.

In 2019, a patient complained in a letter to Optum about the doctor's "inappropriate conduct toward her during an appointment" but she was told in response: "we understand your concerns, but Dr. Hoffman is a hugger," the lawsuit states.

'Something inappropriate is happening'

The suits, the first since Hoffman's arrest, make claims of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

They were filed by two female patients of Hoffman at Optum Hematology and Oncology in Lake Success who were each being treated for breast cancer: Deborah Marsala, of Westbury, and a woman identified in court papers only as Jane Doe. Both women's cancers are now in remission, their attorney said.

Marsala, a patient of Hoffman's from 2020 through 2023, said the doctor used his position to fondle her breasts with his bare hands "under the guise and pretext of ... providing 'medical treatment,' " the suit states. She suffered "severe emotional and psychological distress and personal physical injury" due to the assaults, the lawsuit states.

Rachel Jacobs, an attorney for both women, told Newsday on Monday that during typical breast cancer exams, a chaperone would be in the room and the "manner in which the exam is performed would be done differently.'"

Both women said they were alone with Hoffman during their exams.

"What happens in these situations is that people are in a very vulnerable position and they realize that something inappropriate is happening, but they feel vulnerable," Jacobs said. "They don't want to have a discontinuity in their care, and so they keep going. But eventually enough is enough."

Messages left with Hoffman and his criminal attorney, Amy Beth Marion, of New Hyde Park, were not immediately returned.

Optum Medical Care did not respond to a request for comment.

In March, a company official told Newsday that Hoffman had not been employed by Optum since the summer of 2025.

Doctor charged criminally

Hoffman, 72, of Roslyn, was arrested in March following an investigation by detectives from the Nassau County Police Department's Special Victims Squad.

Police said at the time that Hoffman had "unwanted sexual contact" with a 48-year-old female victim during a routine oncology appointment at Optum Hematology Oncology on Marcus Avenue in New Hyde Park on May 9, 2025.

Authorities said the unidentified victim found herself "alone in the exam room without the presence of a nurse" and was subjected to unspecified unwanted sexual contact.

Hoffman, who has a medical degree from McGill University Faculty of Medicine in Montreal and has been licensed to practice medicine since 1983, pleaded not guilty to second-degree sexual abuse and forcible touching and was released on $10,000 cash or $20,000 insured bond, records show. He is due back in court on Sept. 1.

In an interview Monday with Newsday, the second alleged victim, who lives on Long Island, said she was a patient of Hoffman from 2019 through 2024, seeing him, on average, twice a year.

"I'd never seen an oncologist before, so I didn't know what the proper procedure was," the woman said. "But my intuition always told me something wasn't right. ... I trusted this person with my life."

After Hoffman's arrest, the woman said she felt "validated" in her concerns.

"Women should trust their intuition," she said. "And they should speak up if something doesn't feel right."

State Department of Health records show that, under an agreement with the New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct, Hoffman's medical license remains intact but that he is required to have a "chaperone" present during all patient interactions.

Nicole Turso, a spokeswoman for the Nassau District Attorney's Office said, it was encouraging "anyone who believes they were victimized by this defendant to contact our office or the Nassau County Police Department.”

Hoffman is not the first Long Island doctor to be accused of sexually abusing his patients.

In 2024, former Long Island urologist Darius Paduch was convicted of six counts of inducement to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity and five counts of inducing a minor to engage in sex.

During the trial, multiple victims testified that Paduch, who specialized in fertility treatment for men, encouraged them to masturbate in the examination room and sometimes assisted them under the guise of medical treatment. Some of his exclusively male clientele who were teenagers at the time of the abuse said he would groom them with direct text messages.

At least 800 lawsuits have been filed related to Paduch's behavior.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.