Six women filed lawsuits against the University of Southern California on Monday, alleging that Dr. George Tyndall—who worked as the campus health clinic’s full-time gynecologist for almost 30 years—”sexually victimized them under the pretext of medical care” with USC’s knowledge, the LA Times reports.
The Times first broke the story last week after a lengthy investigation revealed alleged abuse dating back to the 1990s, when co-workers said he was improperly photographing students’ genitals. There were also complaints alleging the doctor was inserting his fingers into patients’ vaginas improperly and not in the manner typical to a gynecological exam.
More recently, according to the paper, Tyndall’s colleagues feared he was targeting Chinese students less familiar with American medical practices. Tyndall was suspended in 2016, and was allowed to resign with a financial payout last summer, even though an internal USC investigation showed that his “behavior during pelvic exams was outside the scope of current medical practice and amounted to sexual harassment of students.” Patients were not informed and he was not reported to the Medical Board of California.
Tyndall has denied any wrongdoing, telling The Times in interviews that his exams were appropriate. “I’m there to protect the health of Trojan women,” he reportedly said. In January, Tyndall renewed his California medical license.
The university told the Times that “in hindsight,” USC should have reported him. The university did finally file a complaint with the medical board on March 9 after a request by Tyndall to be reinstated.
John Manly, an Orange County lawyer who is representing four of the former patients told the Times, “It doesn’t matter how many people get hurt. It is all about protecting USC’s reputation.” Manly also worked on the case that ended with a $500 million settlement from Michigan State University for former patients of Larry Nassar.
Lucy Chi filed a federal class action suit alleging she was violated in 2012 when Tyndall inserted his fingers into her vagina. Another woman says he also inserted his fingers at the beginning of a pelvic exam and remarked on the tightness of her vaginal muscles. Chi says she realized the behavior was improper after reading the Times’ investigation.
USC Provost Michael Quick issued a letter Monday that apologized to patients, but maintained that the university did not ignore complaints.
“It is true that our system failed, but it is important that you know that this claim of a cover-up is patently false,” Quick wrote. “We would never knowingly put students in harm’s way.”
He says the school’s senior leadership did not learn of complaints against Tyndall until 2017.