Sedated cosmetic surgery patient says she was raped, doctor says it was consensual

Ronald “Ron” DeMeo, 63, a South Florida doctor, was arrested on allegations of sexually assaulting a patient. (Credit: WPBF/Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office via CNN Newsource)

Warning: Graphic content.

A South Florida doctor was arrested on allegations of sexually assaulting a patient.

Ronald “Ron” DeMeo, 63, a resident of Miami, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with three counts of sexual battery of a physically helpless victim.

According to arrest documents, the incident between DeMeo, a New Jersey native, and a 29-year-old woman patient occurred on Oct. 25, 2025, at the DeMeo’s cosmetic surgery facility located in Miami.

The victim told law enforcement officials that during the follow-up procedure she remembered inhaling a sedative, which alleviated pain before the procedure along with prescribed medication.

The victim said, while she was waiting for the doctor to enter the procedure room, a staff member offered the victim a glass of wine.

According to the report, the cosmetic facility normally offers patients wine. The victim said she accepted the wine.

The victim stated she remembered the doctor in the procedure room saying he would see her in a while and she began to inhale the sedative.

The victim said she remembered the doctor closed the blinds in the procedure room and recalled feeling pushed to another office.

The victim alleged that the doctor was above her and engaging in sexual intercourse with her.

According to the report, the victim said she did not have the strength to speak or fight back and, “just closed her eyes wanting the assault to end.”

The victim said she never discussed or gave the doctor consent to have any sexual activity with her, felt impaired and had no control of her body.

The victim said she left the facility and did not see staff members. Days later, the victim said she discovered a video of the incident with the doctor saved to her cellphone.

The law enforcement official viewed the video, which showed the victim and the doctor.

The official believes the video showed the victim being assaulted by the doctor as “nonconsensual sexual acts and gestures were observed.”

Before being taken into custody by law enforcement on Wednesday, DeMeo was allowed to call the property manager of his residence to give law enforcement permission to execute a search warrant.

After the calls to the property manager failed, DeMeo called another number. The man on the phone told officials he was DeMeo’s attorney.

Over the phone, the man advised law enforcement that DeMeo would remain silent and did not have access to the building.

During a court hearing on Thursday morning, DeMeo’s attorney stated the encounter between the doctor and the victim was consensual.

“This is an incredibly compelling matter,” Daniel A. Lurvey, the attorney representing DeMeo, said during the court hearing on Thursday. “We have overwhelming evidence exonerating the defendant [DeMeo]. This goes back several months, as the court can see. It was a consensual, 100 per cent encounter. The alleged victim in this case, through her attorneys, the crime victim law firm, demanded $10 million from the doctor. He of course refused to pay it. He, very recently, right before the victim reported this to the police, filed a lawsuit against her for extortion. That’s when she reported to the police.”

DeMeo’s attorney said he has a video of the incident that he said clearly shows the encounter with the doctor and victim was consensual.

“This is a shakedown by this alleged victim,” Lurvey said during the court hearing. “It is outrageous what is going on.”

When Judge Mindy S. Glazer asked how the victim’s cellphone could have been recording while the encounter happened, Lurvey stated that during civil mediation, the victim said the cellphone fell to the ground and accidentally started recording.

Miami Police Department Officer and Public Information Officer Mike Vega Miami Police provided the following statement to WPBF 25 News on Thursday about the video:

“The victim was documenting the procedure on her phone in short, recorded videos. As she is recording it, she’s also taking a gas which makes her calm down, she had also taken a pill to calm down.

As she records a video she passes out, the phone falls and it falls right next to her lap, it falls with the screen facing down, the camera facing up, so it’s capturing everything. The doctor then decides to take advantage of her, and he does sexual acts on her." On Thursday afternoon, Judge Glazer denied bond for DeMeo and ordered DeMeo to in-house arrest.

He must wear an electronic monitoring device and not have contact with the victim.

If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety.
• The Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres' website has a comprehensive list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling.
• The Ending Violence Association of Canada‘s website has links to helplines, support services and locations across Canada that offer sexual assault kits.
• Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis lines: [phone] or [phone] (24/7)
• Toronto Rape Crisis Centre crisis line: [phone] (24/7)
• Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: [phone] (24/7)
• Trans Lifeline: [phone]