A Florida doctor caught on a viral video ranting at and then kicking a sick woman out of a Gainesville clinic is now facing felony grand theft charges.
The video of Doctor Peter Gallogly was recored Monday night at the Gainesville After Hours Clinic by the woman’s daughter and then posted to Facebook by the patient, where it has received thousands of views. The video shows Gallogly taking the woman’s daughter’s iPhone, which has led to the theft charges against the doctor, according to online court documents.
“The (doctor) was mad I wanted my co pay back and was unhappy with having to wait so long and proceeded to cuss me out,” the sick patient, Jessica Stipe, wrote on Facebook. “My daughter recorded it because they were so rude. When he saw it was being recorded he snatched my baby’s phone and shoved her when she tried to get it back. … Never go there for medical care .”
Gallogly apologized for his actions, but said in a statement that Stipe was “irate” and threatened clinic workers while refusing to leave, WCJB-TV reports.
Here’s what you need to know about Gallogly and the video:
1. The Video Shows Gallogly Telling Her to ‘Get Your Money’ & ‘Get the Hell Out’ Before Grabbing Her Daughter’s Phone
You can watch the video, which has received nearly 200,000 views above.
The video shows Jessica Stipe talking to a doctor, since identified as Peter Gallogly, at the clinic, telling him that she had not been seen in a “timely manner.” The doctor reacts by saying, “are you kidding me? Do you know how many people … I’ve got seven rooms back there.” Stipe then tells the doctor she made an appointment at 6:30.
“It’s 7:45,” the doctor responds. “And we’ve already been working on. We’ve done a urine test on you. I’ve seen you.” Stipe then tells him that he came in and told her he was going to check her “pee,” and he responds, “does that take 3 seconds, you think?” while pointing to his watch.
“Do you want to be seen or not?” Gallogly asks. She tells him she wants her money back and he replies, “Then fine, get the hell out, get your money and get the hell out,” while pointing to the door.
Stipe then tells Gallogly that he was “rude” and he says “see you later. If you go to CareSpot, you’re waiting 3 hours. Go to the ER and wait for 9 hours.”
He then moves toward Stipe as her daughter tells him to get out of her mother’s face.
“Get the f*ck out of my office. Now,” Gallogly tells Stipe, opening the door for her. The video ends with the doctor taking Stipe’s daughter’s phone out of her hand and walking away with it.
Stipe told WCJB-TV, “I didn’t get called back very quickly, I did ask if they were running behind, and I was told about 15 minutes, which is not bad. I finally got to the point where I decided I’ll go elsewhere, I needed to come home and catch my breath, I wasn’t feeling well. I did request back the money I had paid. The doctor came out just like that, I tried to be calm with him and tell him how I was feeling, he did not want to hear it. I mean the video speaks for itself.”
2. Gallogly, Who Addressed the Video in a Statement, Could Face up to 5 Years in Prison for Taking the Daughter’s iPhone
FacebookThe moment the doctor took Jessica Stipe’s daughter’s phone.
Officer Ben Tobias, a spokesman for the Gainesville Police Department, told The Gainesville Sun that a criminal investigation into Gallogly’s actions has been launched.
A complaint was filed Thursday charging Gallogly with grand theft of item valued at more than $300 and less than $5,000, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison, along with a possible fine up to $5,000 and five years of probation. The case has been assigned to a judge, but a summons has not been issued and a court date has not been set. It will be up to prosecutors to decide if they want to continue with the case against Gallogly.
According to Jessica Stipe’s Facebook post, police were called and responded to the clinic at 926 NW 13th Street. Stipe wrote on Facebook that the police told her they could not file battery or assault charges because of insufficient evidence. She said officers took a report at the clinic. Police have not commented further about the incident. Stipe said she has contacted an attorney.
“Gpd is here now but says we can’t press assault charges even though it’s all on tape because she has no injury .. wtf .. he took her phone and shoved her she is a minor,” she wrote on Facebook.
Stipe told WCJB-TV that Gallogly got aggressive with her daughter. “She has an iPhone 7+, it’s not a small phone. So her phone is gripped around it, he forced the phone out of my baby’s hand. She said give me my phone back, and that’s when you see the scuffle on the video where he shoved her, and then he turned around went through his lobby and down the hallway with her phone,” she told the news staiton.
Stipe said she thinks Gallogly tried to delete the video before throwing the phone back to her daughter.
Gallogly, meanwhile, addressed the video in a statement released Wednesday, WCJB-TV reports.
“Ms. Stipe had been increasingly belligerent and abusive to the office staff, cursing and threatening them with violence, because she was unwell and had been waiting to see me for more than an hour,” he said in the statement. Gallogly said Stipe was offered a refund, but refused to leave. “I went to the front desk only because after Ms. Stipe received her refund, she refused to leave the office, and continued her abusive behavior towards staff. Despite repeated requests from the office staff, she repeatedly demanded to see me instead of leaving.
You can read the full statement below or by clicking here:
“When I walked into the waiting room, Ms. Stipe (and her daughter) cursed and threatened me as they had done with the office staff previously,” the doctor said.
Gallogly did express regret.
“At the very end of the events, I most regrettably lost my temper, and spoke to the two women in a most unprofessional manner. I make no excuses for my unacceptable behavior,” Gallogly said in his statement, adding he was “merely reacting to unreasonable provocations and threats of physical violence … Again, while not an excuse for my behavior, a basic reason for my reaction is that I simply regard my staff as family, and I over-reacted to defend them.”
He said he took the phone to protect the privacy of patients in the room.
Stipe disputed Gallogly’s statement, telling WGFL-TV, his claims are “absolutely not true.”
“What you saw is what it was,” Stipe said. “This is just ridiculous.”
The clinic also released several documents, including witness statements and the police report, which can be seen here.
3. Stipe Says She Posted the Video Because She Was ‘Appalled’ at How She & Her Daughter Were Treated
Jessica Stipe.
On Facebook, Stipe wrote that she was “severely sick” and went to the clinic for a 6:30 p.m. appointment. By 7:45 p.m. she said she had not been seen and was “still in severe pain and throwing up in the trash can.” She said all the doctor did was have her “pee in a cup to see if I’m pregnant …. ummm I know I’m not …”
Stipe said she, “asked for my co pay back so I could leave and go back home to bed and try to be seen elsewhere tomorrow because I’m just that miserable that all I want is my bed.”
She posted an update Tuesday morning saying that she had received an outpouring of support from people who saw her video, but also hate from some who said she deserved that reaction for asking her money back. “Bottom line I’m sick as heck and my first priority is to get well so I can think clearly and handle all of this in the best way possible,” she wrote.
“I’m sick, I’m tired and still appalled at how my child was treated as well as how we were spoken too,” she wrote in an update later Tuesday. She said she posted the video and spoke about what happened “so you and your kids don’t have to go through this.”
Stipe also responded to criticism she has received. “Yes I’m employed, I don’t do drugs and yes I wanted meds …. a antibiotic. For those of you offering genuine support again my heartfelt thanks, getting rest and walking away from it. As long as 1 patient was helped and doesn’t have to endure this … then I’m happy.”
4. Gallogly Graduated From University of Florida College of Medicine & Has Been a Gainesville Physician Since 2004
Dr. Peter Gallogly.
Dr. Peter Gallogly, 42, graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans with degrees in psychology and biology, according to a now-deleted bio on the Gainesville After Hours Clinic website. He then attended medical school at the University of Florida College of Medicine, graduating in 2001.
Gallogly completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Florida Department of Community Health and Family Medicine at Alachua General Hospital.
“Board-certified in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine, Dr. Gallogly has been practicing and residing in Gainesville, FL. since 2004, and is a proud member of the Gainesville community,” the website said. Gallogly does not have any record of disciplinary action or previous complaints against him.
Stipe told WCJB-TV, “Beyond that video, I had one interaction with the doctor, and that’s when he came in , picked up the cup, and walked off the room, didn’t ask my symptoms, nothing. She said she is considering a lawsuit, and “I think I’m going to stick with my primary.”
5. He Has Received Positive Reviews From Patients, but Has Been Flooded With Angry Comments After the Video Went Viral
The Gainesville After Hours Clinic.
Gallogly has positive reviews on Google from his patients.
“Dr. Gallogly is an excellent doctor with the patience to listen and find out what is going on with you. He and his staff were excellent and got me in and out quickly,” Kelly Dunbar wrote last week.
Morton Wolfson wrote, “I have been seeing Dr. Gallogly for many years. I met him at the Gainesville After Hours Clinic. He is a great Doctor, he always resolves my issues and I would recommend him to any one.”
Another patient, Linda Heyman, wrote, “I appreciate the courtesy and professional work of the staff at the Gainesville After Hours Clinic. Thank you Dr. Gallogly.”
But the Google review page has received several negative comments since the video went viral.
“I just saw the video of you yelling at your patient and assaulting her daughter. This is unacceptable and I pray that you are censured for this,” Lando Morales wrote.
Another commenter said, “Watch the video of Peter Gallogly MD abusing a patent and her daughter today. I’m sharing this video to be sure no one else brings their business to you. It’s a sad world when the doctor can not keep his cool. His license needs to be pulled.”
Karen Berg wrote, “Horrible doctor…super slow and apparently get’s violent when called on it.”
Other comments simply stated, “Go somewhere else,” “Disgusting.”