ANDREOZZI + FOOTE
Dr. Patrick Stephen Clyne
Sexual Abuse Allegations
Reviewed by:
Benjamin D. Andreozzi, Esq.
- Last Updated: January 9, 2026
For more than 20 years, former foster youth and pediatric patients have accused Dr. Patrick Stephen Clyne of sexual abuse during what should have been routine, medically necessary examinations. Despite repeated red flags raised by children, parents, medical professionals, and county agencies, Dr. Clyne continued to hold positions that gave him direct access to minors across Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties.
Today, survivors are stepping forward — and they are not alone.
Andreozzi + Foote represents survivors of doctor sexual abuse and institutional negligence nationwide, helping them pursue answers, accountability, and justice.
“Dr. Clyne was entrusted with the care of some of the most vulnerable children in our communities, yet he exploited that trust in ways that never should have been allowed to continue. This harm was preventable, and the failures that allowed it to persist must be brought to light.”
Who Is Dr. Patrick Stephen Clyne?
Dr. Clyne served as a pediatrician in California beginning in the 1990s. He worked closely with foster youth in Santa Clara County and later treated children in Santa Cruz County at the Pediatric Medical Group of Watsonville and at his private clinic in Freedom, California.
Across both regions, disturbing reports emerged from former foster children, pediatric patients, and parents describing sexually inappropriate, invasive, or medically unnecessary exams.
Although Clyne consistently denied the allegations, survivors and medical professionals described exam practices so unusual that other physicians found them “bizarre,” “highly suspicious,” and outside accepted pediatric standards.
Despite decades of complaints, Dr. Clyne was never arrested or criminally charged.
However, his medical career ultimately ended in 2025 when he surrendered his California medical license.
A Timeline of Allegations Against Dr. Clyne
Early 2000s: Foster Youth Report Sexual Abuse in Santa Clara County
Clyne served as the chief pediatrician for foster children beginning in 1996, while also acting as an expert witness for the local District Attorney.
In 2001, three foster children — including siblings Kyle and Max — reported that Clyne sexually abused them while in his care.
San Jose police investigated and brought the matter to a criminal grand jury. Prosecutors and investigators recommended charges, and the boys testified. Despite this, the grand jury declined to indict him, allowing Clyne to return to his role at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.
This decision meant he remained in daily contact with vulnerable children.
2009–2014: New Reports and Increasing Concern
Years later, concerns resurfaced when at least 10 pediatric patients ages 8–11 reported sexual misconduct during physical examinations between 2009 and 2011.
Other physicians who reviewed the examination descriptions deemed them medically unnecessary and “extraordinarily uncommon.”
Key developments during this period include:
2011: The District Attorney notified defense attorneys that “substantial evidence” suggested Clyne committed multiple acts of sexual misconduct.
2011: Clyne was terminated from Santa Clara County.
2011: The Medical Board of California was notified — but took no immediate action.
2013–2014: The California Department of Social Services barred Clyne from foster parenting and from serving in any leadership role in state-licensed care facilities.
New Mexico’s medical board rejected his incomplete and misleading license application.
Despite all these warnings, no criminal charges were filed, and Clyne continued practicing medicine.
Mid-2010s: Complaints in Santa Cruz County
By the mid-2010s, Dr. Clyne had moved his practice to Santa Cruz County. During this time, allegations shifted from foster youth to pediatric patients and their parents.
In 2018, a mother reported Clyne’s “strange” and inappropriate examination methods after witnessing them firsthand. Her complaint triggered a joint investigation by the Medical Board of California and Watsonville Police.
The Santa Cruz District Attorney declined to prosecute, citing the difficulty of meeting the criminal burden of proof.
Meanwhile, Child Protective Services continued receiving reports from social workers, therapists, probation officers, group home staff, and guardians — all raising concerns about sexual misconduct involving minors.
Still, no restrictions were placed on his license.
2020: Former Foster Youth Files Civil Lawsuit
In 2020, Kyle — one of the foster youth whose allegations surfaced in 2001 — filed a civil lawsuit in Santa Cruz County.
He alleges Dr. Clyne began abusing him at age eight while he was placed in Clyne’s foster home and later adopted by him.
Kyle had previously told his mother and a probation officer about the abuse as a teenager, and had testified before the grand jury years earlier. After California expanded its statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse, he was able to pursue the civil lawsuit.
No public record indicates that the case has been resolved.
2021–2024: Medical Board Enforcement & Additional Victims
In 2021, the California Attorney General filed an administrative accusation to revoke Clyne’s license, alleging:
Unprofessional conduct
Gross negligence
Sexually abusive examinations of minors
Invasive exams conducted without gloves
Children asked to walk naked
Lack of chaperones
No medical justification for genital examinations
Initially involving six child victims, the case later expanded to twelve alleged survivors spanning 2014–2019.
2025: Medical License Surrender
On June 13, 2025, Dr. Clyne surrendered his California medical license.
The surrender permanently ended his ability to practice medicine and concluded the administrative case without a public hearing.
This action did not resolve the pending civil lawsuit or prevent future survivors from coming forward.
Decades of Missed Warnings
Looking at the full timeline, the pattern is unmistakable: multiple institutions received reports of inappropriate behavior over two decades — yet meaningful intervention came far too late.
These failures allowed Clyne continued access to children in foster care, residential programs, county medical services, and pediatric clinics.
For survivors, especially foster youth, reporting abuse by a trusted doctor or caregiver is extraordinarily difficult. Many fear retaliation, worry no one will believe them, or lack the support to disclose what happened.
These systemic failures can be grounds for civil liability against not only the perpetrator, but also:
Foster care agencies
County departments
Medical facilities
Hospitals
Licensing bodies
Mandatory reporters who failed to act
Your Legal Rights as a Survivor of Dr. Clyne
Even though the criminal justice system did not file charges, survivors may still have powerful civil options.
A civil claim can:
Hold Dr. Clyne accountable
Investigate institutional failures
Reveal how complaints were handled
Identify who knew what — and when
Secure compensation for emotional, psychological, or physical harm
Provide closure and validation
Andreozzi + Foote has represented survivors in cases involving pediatricians, hospitals, foster care agencies, group homes, school systems, and other institutions responsible for protecting children.
Were You Harmed by Dr. Clyne? You Are Not Alone.
If you experienced inappropriate touching, medically unnecessary genital exams, unusual requests during appointments, or any encounter with Dr. Clyne that felt uncomfortable or wrong, help is available.
Many survivors do not recognize abuse until years later. Many struggle to speak up because of fear, confusion, or shame.
No matter when it happened, your voice matters.
Speak With a Lawyer Confidentially
Andreozzi + Foote offers free, confidential consultations for anyone who may have been harmed by Dr. Patrick Stephen Clyne. We can explain your legal options, answer questions, and guide you toward healing and justice.
You deserve to be heard.
You deserve answers.
And you deserve accountability.
Contact us today to speak with an experienced sexual abuse attorney.
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Empowering Survivors and Delivering Justice Nationwide
We understand the courage it takes to reach out for help, and we are here to listen. At Andreozzi + Foote, our trauma-informed attorneys are dedicated to providing compassionate, confidential support every step of the way. With extensive experience in advocating for survivors of sexual abuse, we are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where your voice is heard and your rights are fiercely protected. Contact us today for a free, in-depth consultation and take the first step toward justice.