Jul 21, 2014 03:40 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Hospital will have to pay out $190 million to more than 8,000 patients of a gynecologist who improperly videotaped their sex organs during examinations.

According to the Associated Press, the prestigious medical school reached the settlement agreement with the group of women's legal team. A judge approved the preliminary agreement Monday and it is one of the largest ever in the U.S. involving sexual misconduct from a physician.

Dr. Nikita Levy apparently used a secret camera meant to look like a pen to make his videos. When one of his co-workers reported what he was doing to JHU officials, the school fired him and he eventually turned over his camera. Less than a week later, Levy killed himself.

Investigators found more than 1,200 videos and 140 images on several different servers in his home.

"All of these women were brutalized by this," Jonathan Schochor, the women's lead attorney, told the AP. "Some of these women needed counseling, they were sleepless, they were dysfunctional in the workplace, they were dysfunctional at home, they were dysfunctional with their mates. This breach of trust, this betrayal - this is how they felt."

The women's lawyers said it would be impossible to say for sure who exactly was affected, since the videos did not include anyone's face, but that thousands of Levy's patients were traumatized. More than 8,000 women joined a class-action lawsuit last fall, around the same time JHU fired Levy. Some women claimed they were summoned for what they believed to be unnecessary pelvic examinations.

"All funds will come from insurance," JHU said in a statement. "This settlement, which has been formalized by the plaintiffs' attorneys and the Health System and given preliminary approval by the judge, will not in any way compromise the ability of the Health System to serve its patients, staff and community.

"We assure you that one individual does not define Johns Hopkins. Johns Hopkins is defined by the tens of thousands of employees who come to work determined to provide world-class care for our patients and their families."

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