San Antonio pediatrician accused of child sexual assault, parents demand answers
- Dignity 4Patients
- Nov 24
- 2 min read
By Taylor Whartnaby- 24/11/2025- News 4- [San Antonio]- [Gabriel Perez]
SAN ANTONIO — A pediatrician, Dr. Gabriel Perez, is facing serious allegations of sexually assaulting a child under his care.
Perez, who was once a trusted figure in the community, is now out on bond and has been assigned a court-appointed attorney, Fernando Cortes. Cortes stated he has not yet spoken to Perez and has no comment at this time.
Parents who have relied on Perez for their children's medical care are grappling with the news. Jessica Martinez, a mother of five, expressed her shock and disbelief.
"It's very shocking. When I was looking at the video, I started to cry because he gained our trust as a family. We really loved him," she said. Martinez recently asked her children if Perez had ever made them feel uncomfortable, to which they replied, "No, mom, he's never. And my immediate thought was, How did this happen?"
Martinez also questioned why she had not been informed by CentroMed SA Pediatrics, where Perez worked, and why she learned about the allegations through the media.
"Why was he still there? I don't know the process for that. I don't know if they were waiting to investigate. I don't know if they were still investigating him, but why not let the parents know?" she asked.
According to the arrest affidavit, the victim alleged that Perez sexually assaulted him at age 12 after asking his mother to leave the examination room. The following year, during an annual check-up, the victim claimed Perez had touched him inappropriately and had sexual contact with him, allegedly telling him, "You know you can't tell anyone. Right?"
Joseph Holscher, a managing attorney, explained that parents generally have the right to remain in the room during medical exams unless it's an emergency.
"I think that parents need to be aware of their rights, but there are medical reasons that a doctor might ask a parent to step out. The parent does not have to agree to do that," Holscher said.
He suspects a thorough investigation will follow, given Perez's access to children, and there is a high probability that other children may be affected.
Perez's arrest affidavit also mentioned a separate incident reported by a 17-year-old patient in February 2024. Online records from the Texas Medical Board show no current board action or medical malpractice investigations against Perez.
The Texas Medical Board stated, "We take all complaints very seriously, but we cannot confirm, deny, or comment on any potential or pending complaints or investigations until action has been taken by the TMB Board."
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article and were abused in state run medical and health facilities, you can contact Dignity4Patients, whose helpline is open Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm.
Dignity4Patients Commentary: This case underscores the profound breach of trust that occurs when allegations of abuse arise within a medical setting, particularly involving children and a physician once regarded as a trusted caregiver. The situation also raises difficult questions about transparency, patient rights, and communication from medical institutions when serious concerns emerge. Parents’ awareness of their right to remain present during examinations, along with clear protocols for reporting and addressing misconduct, is critical to safeguarding children.