A New York surgeon defended himself to an LGBTQ media outlet after news broke that he once asked Jeffrey Epstein
A New York surgeon defended himself to an LGBTQ media outlet after news broke that he once asked Jeffrey Epstein to fund his transgender health documentary.
Dr. Jess Ting of the Mt. Sinai Health System told The Advocate on Monday that he did not “recall” whether Epstein was charged with sex crimes before he treated multiple female patients of his as a plastic surgeon. Ting also accepted $50,000 in breast cancer research funding from Epstein in 2013, visited his private island in that year and asked the late financier to support a film on his “groundbreaking” transgender surgery practices in 2016, according to emails the Daily Caller News Foundation reported Monday.
“I have taken care of thousands of patients over the years, from all walks of life, from actual prisoners at Riker’s Island to captains of industry and A-list movie stars,” Ting told the outlet. “When I am referred a patient, I don’t pass judgment on the patient’s personal life, or on the background of the person referring that patient. I focus only on the patient and how I can help them.”
“I remember reading news reports about [Epstein] being charged with sex crimes, but I don’t recall if that was before or after I treated any of the patients referred by his office,” Ting said. He also reportedly denied engaging in any sexual behavior with any Epstein associate while on his island, and said a reference to playing with “toys” on the island referred to jet skis and sailboats.
