Northampton County doctor convicted of indecent assault on patient
By DANIEL PATRICK SHEEHAN | dsheehan@mcall.com | The Morning Call
UPDATED: March 6, 2025 at 6:19 PM EST
A doctor from Bethlehem Township was convicted Wednesday of indecent assault on a patient after a three-day trial in Northampton County.
Eric Cochran will be sentenced June 11 and faces being put on the Megan’s Law sex offenders list for a minimum of 15 years, the Northampton County district attorney’s office said.
In March 2023, Colonial Regional police received a complaint from a woman Cochran was treating for a work-related back injury. At the time, Cochran was employed by Concentra Urgent Care in Hanover Township, Northampton County.
According to police, the woman had an initial appointment with Cochran that consisted of a routine evaluation and referral for physical therapy.
On a subsequent visit, Cochran told her that her employer would no longer pay her salary during medical appointments and advised her to discontinue therapy and do the exercises at home. He told her to continue her follow-up visits with him.
On ensuing visits, Cochran massaged the woman’s back — an act she understood to be part of treatment when he did it before — but made sexual contact with her.
On a later visit, the woman surreptitiously filmed Cochran on her cellphone as he made more intrusive sexual contact, after which he told her he was interested in her and wanted to see her outside the office. She refused, reported the incidents to police and provided the video.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Matthew Falk and Assistant District Attorney Nicole Bachman, and investigated by Detective Michael Munch of Colonial Regional police.
“The district attorney would like to thank both Detective Munch for his hard work throughout this investigation and the victim who demonstrated immense courage by coming forward,” the DA’s office said in a news release.
“This is a case in which this law firm is representing the victim. The story is the same one we have become accustomed to in this society. An innocent patient is sent to see a doctor who is a predator, and her life changes overnight. To add insult to injury, a plea deal was offered and rejected in this case because the assailant was brazen and cold...He now has to pay his debt to society and will pay his debt to the victim shortly. Please understand not all doctors are predators. Unfortunately, we don’t know who the bad apples are. Be very vigilant as a patient ..Pay attention!.. If something feels wrong, it usually is…Raise questions. Be heard, and Protect yourself... If you are female and the doctor is male, request a female be in the room with you…If you have a problem, call us...We listen!”
Northampton Co. doctor convicted in indecent assault of patient
Danielle Gehman Mar 6, 2025
Northampton Co. Doctor Convicted in Indecent Assault of Patient
https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/northampton-county/bethlehem-area/northampton-co-doctor-convicted-in-indecent-assault-of-patient/article_f9748d6e-fad1-11ef-b52b-5b0f0e4b8d40.html
A Northampton County doctor will have to register as a sex offender after being found guilty of assaulting a patient.
Dr. Eric Cochran, of Bethlehem Township, was convicted by a 12-person jury of indecent assault after a three-day trial, according to the county district attorney's office.
He is set to be sentenced in June and will be registered as a sex offender under Megan's Law for at least 15 years, the DA said.
"No one should be afraid of going to their doctor," prosecutors said during closing arguments, according to the DA's office.
Cochran was employed by Concentra Urgent Care in Hanover Township at the time of the assault, officials say. He was treating a woman for a workplace injury to her back and had seen the patient for several visits, the last being in March 2023.
Northampton County doctor charged with sexually assaulting patient
That's when the woman recorded Cochran assaulting her during her appointment, officials say.
The footage was provided to police and Cochran was charged later in 2023.
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