A family doctor-in-training is being held without bail in Boston after he was caught secretly recording medical examinations of children on a bracelet during appointments. Thousands of child porn images and videos were also discovered on at least 80 separate electronic devices in both the doctor’s apartment and at his parent’s $1.1 million home in Winchester.
Dr. Bradford David Ferrick is a 32-year-old resident doctor who was specializing in family medicine. He started his residency with Baystate Franklin Family Medicine in July, and has done rotations in Greenfield, Deerfield, and Springfield, Massachusetts.
The investigation into Ferrick began in January when a Google account belonging to him was flagged for uploading illicit images of minors by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Further investigation uncovered illegal material being uploaded at an IP address linked to his parent’s home.
In February, state officials conducted a search of his residence in Winchester where they uncovered 61 devices containing suspected child sex abuse materials. A few days later, another search was conducted that uncovered 11 more devices containing the same type of child porn material.
A few days after the second search, a third search was initiated at a rental residence in Amherst during which authorities found eight more devices containing explicit materials involving children, one of which was a bracelet that had been rigged with a hidden camera that Ferrick used during medical exams.
Ferrick was arrested and was initially charged with four state counts of child pornography possession, then paid bail and was released with orders to remain at his home.
On Tuesday, he appeared in Boston federal court and was charged with a single federal count of child porn possession and ordered to be held without bail until his next hearing on March 21.
U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins released a statement on the disturbing case, saying, “I can think of no greater fear as a parent or guardian than potential harm coming to your child. Today we allege that this doctor, who held a position of trust with access to children, maintained child sexual abuse material. The investigation is active and ongoing.
“As members of law enforcement, the safety of children is our highest priority,” Rollins added. “Together, in close cooperation with the medical facilities where Dr. Ferrick was employed, we will do all that we can to identify the duration and scope of his alleged offenses and proceed accordingly and expeditiously.”
