Luca Rotunno, a 69-year-old mastology specialist in Vicenza, Italy, was placed under house arrest on Wednesday, September 9, following an investigation into allegations of aggravated and continuous sexual assault against patients. According to Corriere del Veneto, the inquiry was launched after the Council of the Order of Physicians of Vicenza filed a formal report regarding inappropriate examination methods used during medical consultations.
Investigation and Patient Allegations
Investigators from the Carabinieri in Vicenza executed the precautionary custody order issued by Vicenza preliminary investigations judge Matteo Mantovani, as reported by Corriere del Veneto. Rotunno practiced as a freelance physician inside Linfa – Pronto soccorso oncologico, a private oncology clinic in Vicenza that he founded. While Rotunno is officially registered with the Order of Physicians of Salerno, the local Vicenza medical board triggered the criminal probe after receiving multiple complaints from women regarding his examination practices.
According to case documents cited by Corriere del Veneto, the suspect allegedly exploited his professional title and the trust of his patients during breast cancer prevention appointments. Investigators state that the physician claimed there were direct medical links between breast pathologies and disorders in other organs. Prosecutors allege he used this rationale to convince patients that rectal examinations involving manual maneuvers were clinically necessary, performing them without explicit, informed consent and without actual medical necessity.
Judicial Ruling and Prior Conviction
Judge Mantovani determined that grave indications of guilt exist in the case, justifying house arrest due to the concrete risk that the suspect might repeat similar offenses or attempt to influence victims, according to Corriere del Veneto. Under the terms of the house arrest order, Rotunno cannot leave his residence without judicial authorization or communicate with individuals outside his household or caregivers.
The 69-year-old physician has a prior criminal record involving similar accusations. In 2007, Rotunno was convicted and sentenced to three years and eight months in prison, alongside financial compensation orders for 33 victims, as detailed by Corriere del Veneto. At the time of those offenses, he worked as a senologist at San Bortolo Hospital in Vicenza, where he held the position of deputy chief physician. Following that conviction, the Court of Auditors of Veneto ordered him in 2009 to pay 50,000 euros to the local health authority (USL) for image damage caused to the hospital.
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