The list of sexual abuse victims from two former physicians at the University of Southern California is getting longer as more students have come forward to report the abuse.
On Monday, 33 women and 11 men claiming they were sexually assaulted by gynecologist George Tyndall and men’s sexual health doctor Dennis Kelly attended a press conference organized by attorney Andy Rubinstein. Two lawsuits were filed the same day, CBS Los Angeles reported.
The victims spoke about their experiences with the doctors while they were enrolled in the university.
“USC needs to be held accountable,” Amanda Davis, one of Tyndall’s victims, said during the press conference. “They need to provide answers for who knew what, when, where. They need to give a voice and closure to victims as they have promised.”
Last year, the university agreed to settle a lawsuit for $215 million as a result of a legal battle waged by more than 650 former students. The students alleged the school of ignoring their complaints against the former doctor.
The lawsuit also accused the school of allowing Tyndall to resign quietly with a financial settlement in June 2017 after an internal probe found him guilty of inappropriately touching the genitals of patients.
Earlier this year, another lawsuit by six male graduates who identified themselves as gay or bisexual alleged Kelly of sexual misconduct by conducting unnecessary rectal exams to satisfy his own sexual desires, the LA Times reported.
“It saddens me that USC allowed this abuse to continue for years without any change, but I want to turn my sorrow into action,” Seth Johnson, who was made to undergo an unnecessary invasive exam by Kelly, said during a media briefing.
“I want to encourage and inspire people to speak up and not be afraid to defend themselves from these predatory situations. It’s time for USC and Dr. Kelly to be held accountable,” Johnson added.
Meanwhile, Tyndall has continued to maintain his innocence and has claimed that his conduct was within ethical medical practices.
“Dr. Tyndall remains adamant that he engaged in no criminal conduct while practicing medicine at USC,” Tyndall’s attorney said in a statement. “He believes that when all the facts are known it will be determined that his examinations of students at USC were for the stated medical purpose, and consistent with the standard of care for such examinations.”
In a statement to the Daily Trojan, the university acknowledged the latest lawsuits and said that it “will seek a prompt and fair resolution that is respectful of our former students.”
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