Civil Lawsuit Filed Against Arkansas Doctor Adam Maass Over Alleged Inappropriate Breast Exams During Thyroid Care

June 11, 2025 — Little Rock, Arkansas
The Gillispie Law Firm has filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of Sarah Blanchard-Darneal against Dr. Adam Maass, an endocrinologist in Arkansas, and the medical facilities that employed him. The complaint alleges that Dr. Maass performed unnecessary and inappropriate breast exams during thyroid treatment, beginning when the plaintiff was a teenager.

The lawsuit states that this conduct began in 2013 at Mercy Endocrinology Clinic in Rogers, Arkansas, when Ms. Blanchard-Darneal was approximately 15 years old. Similar incidents are alleged to have occurred later at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital in Johnson and Main Street Endocrinology in Cave Springs, where Dr. Maass also practiced.

According to the complaint, Ms. Blanchard-Darneal believed the exams were medically required and placed her trust in Dr. Maass based on his professional status.

“Sarah dreaded these breast exams. They always made her feel uncomfortable,” said Josh Gillispie, attorney for the plaintiff. “But she was a teenager. She trusted this man and believed him when he said these exams were necessary for her thyroid treatment.”

The plaintiff did not realize what had happened until years later, after Dr. Maass was arrested.

“It wasn’t until Maass’s arrest in 2022 that Sarah recognized the exams may not have been medically necessary,” Gillispie explained. “She then became aware that other women had made similar allegations involving Dr. Maass.”

The lawsuit also points to a 2007 investigation by the Arkansas State Medical Board into similar complaints involving Dr. Maass. According to the filing, the medical facilities that hired him failed to protect patients despite warnings.

“Mercy Endocrinology, Willow Creek—all of these medical facilities that employed Dr. Maass and presented him as a medical professional—had access to his prior disciplinary history,” Gillispie said. “Based on the allegations in this case, more should have been done to prevent him from conducting unsupervised breast exams on adolescent patients.”

“The complaint raises serious concerns about whether proper safeguards were in place,” he added. “It alleges that Dr. Maass was allowed to examine patients without chaperones, even after prior investigations by the medical board.”

The plaintiff is seeking damages for emotional distress and lasting psychological harm.

Can Patients Sue Doctors for Inappropriate Exams?

Many people have questions about what is and isn’t acceptable during a medical exam. Some of the most common include:

• Is it normal for a thyroid doctor to perform a breast exam?

• Can I sue a doctor for inappropriate touching?

• How do I report sexual misconduct by a doctor in Arkansas?

Situations like these often leave patients confused or hesitant to speak up, especially if they were young or unsure at the time. But people who were subjected to exams that were not medically necessary may have legal rights.

About The Gillispie Law Firm

Based in Little Rock, The Gillispie Law Firm represents individuals who were sexually abused, particularly during childhood or adolescence. The firm has brought legal action against religious institutions, youth programs, schools, childcare providers, and medical professionals. Its team helps survivors take legal action when trusted adults or institutions have caused harm—or failed to prevent it.

Legal Notice:
This article describes claims made in a civil lawsuit filed in Arkansas state court. All claims are allegations only. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven otherwise in court.