Johns Hopkins Hospital agrees to pay $190 million over Dr. Nikita Levy tapes

Johns Hopkins Hospital has agreed to pay $190 million after some 8,000 women joined a legal case claiming a gynecologist had secretly recorded them.

Dr. Nikita Levy, who killed himself last year, reportedly used cameras in pens and key fobs to tape patients.

Lawyer Jonathan Schochor said all of the women had been “brutalized” and described it as a “betrayal”.

The settlement is believed to be the largest of its kind in US history.

The hospital said in a statement that one individual “does not define Johns Hopkins”.

“It is our hope that this settlement, and findings by law enforcement that images were not shared, helps those affected achieve a measure of closure,” the statement said.

Nikita Levy’s misconduct was first brought to light by a colleague, who saw a pen camera around his neck.

Authorities later discovered more than 1,200 images and videos clips of patients on hard drives in Nikita Levy’s home.

The women also alleged that Nikita Levy ordered an “excessive number” of invasive exams and engaged in inappropriate physical contact.

An investigation later determined Dr. Nikita Levy participated in the misconduct on his own and did not record underage patients.

Nikita Levy was fired by the hospital on February 8, 2013, after the allegations came to light and was found dead 10 days later.