Board Suspends Fall River Doctor Charged with Stalking Woman

A 71-year-old Fall River physician who lives in Westport is facing criminal charges for allegedly stalking a woman and his license to practice medicine has been temporarily suspended.

Dr. William E. O'Connor was arraigned Wednesday in Orleans District Court on charges of trespassing, violating an abuse prevention order, and threatening to commit a crime. He's due back in court April 3 for a pretrial hearing.

The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine issued a summary suspension of O'Connor's license at its Feb. 6 meeting. Such temporary suspensions are taken when there are allegations that could threaten "public health, safety, and welfare." O'Connor has the right to a hearing before the full board.

According to court documents viewed by the Cape Cod Times, Brewster police responded to a home on Henrys Road on Sept. 14 when the homeowner said his remote security camera had caught O'Connor trespassing on his property.

Police said O'Connor was observed wearing a sports jacket, smoking a cigarette, and trying to gain entry to the side door of the home. Police said he was seen entering an outdoor shower, and that in the past, he had turned on the shower and left it running while the homeowners were away.

The police report identified the homeowner's wife as O'Connor's former girlfriend. The medical board claims the victim was a former patient who had obtained a restraining order against O'Connor in May of 2018.

O'Connor is a facial plastic surgeon and ear, nose and throat specialist. His listed place of business is Truesdale Health in Fall River. Licensed to practice medicine in Massachusetts since 1980, O'Connor is a 1979 graduate of a medical college in Belgium.

O'Connor was censured by the board in 2016 for failing to report on his license renewal form that he had previously been charged with a crime. At the time, he was fined $2,500 and ordered to perform 25 hours of community service.

Following his suspension, O’Connor has the right to a hearing at the Division of Administrative Law Appeals within seven days.