Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Women Sue University Of Southern California Over Its Alleged Failure To Address Gynecologist's Behavior
Los Angeles Times: 6 Women Sue USC, Alleging They Were Victimized By Campus Gynecologist
Six women filed civil lawsuits Monday alleging that a longtime gynecologist at the University of Southern California sexually victimized them under the pretext of medical care and that USC failed to address complaints from clinic staff about the doctor's behavior. One woman alleged Dr. George Tyndall forced his entire ungloved hand into her vagina during an appointment in 2003 while making "vulgar" remarks about her genitalia, according to one of the lawsuits. Another woman alleged that Tyndall groped her breasts in a 2008 visit and that later he falsely told her she "likely had AIDS." A third woman accused the doctor of grazing his ungloved fingers over her nude body and leering at her during a purported skin exam, the lawsuit states. (Hamilton, Ryan and Winton, 5/21)
The Associated Press: USC Sued Over Clinic Gynecologist Accused Of Misconduct
Dr. George Tyndall routinely made crude comments, took inappropriate photographs and forced the plaintiffs to strip naked and groped them under the guise of medical treatment for his "sexual gratification," the civil lawsuit said. Tyndall, who worked at a USC clinic for 30 years, denied wrongdoing in interviews with the Los Angeles Times. He didn't return phone calls and it wasn't known Monday if he has an attorney. The complaint accuses the university of failing to properly respond to complaints about Tyndall. USC said in a statement that it was aware of the lawsuit. (5/21)
The New York Times: 5 Women Sue U.S.C., Alleging Sexual Abuse By Campus Doctor
“There will be other women coming forward,” said Louanne Masry, a lawyer at Taylor & Ring, a law firm in Manhattan Beach, Calif., that represents one of the women. “We’re getting lots of calls in. This is only going to grow.” A second lawsuit, filed on behalf of four unnamed women, called the former gynecologist, Dr. George Tyndall, a “serial sexual predator” and blamed the university for “actively and deliberately” covering up Dr. Tyndall’s predations for years. (Arango, 5/21)
Bloomberg: USC Sued For Failing Student Victims Of Abuse By Gynecologist
USC issued a report last week in which it admitted that complaints dating back to 2000 were sufficient to terminate the gynecologist. The doctor worked at the university since 1989 and examined as many as 16 women a day, according to the complaint. The former student seeks to represent the hundreds, if not thousands, of other women who were examined by the gynecologist at USC. The university said in a statement that it was aware of the lawsuit. (Pettersson, 5/21)
