From the LA Times: A cancer patient sued UCLA and Dr. James Heaps on Tuesday, accusing the former campus gynecologist of repeatedly sexual assaulting her during her two years of treatment.
The 44-year-old woman was battling mesothelioma when, in October 2015, she went to Heaps for surgery, she said.
During four visits that stretch to June 2017, the woman alleges Heaps abused his position of trust to improperly touch her clitoris repeatedly, fondle her breasts and squeeze her nipples — all under the guise of medical examination.
The latest accusations come as UCLA is facing criticism for its handling of Heaps — and why officials didn’t immediately alert the public or his patients about the allegations of misconduct when the university first learned of them.
Heaps has denied any wrongdoing.
A UCLA Health spokesperson told The Times on Tuesday that “the allegations against Dr. Heaps contained in the lawsuit are very disturbing.”
Last week, Heaps pleaded not guilty to criminal charges of sexual battery during his treatment of two patients at a university facility. His attorney, Tracy Green, said Heaps was a “respected, talented and thorough gynecological oncologist” whose treatment was always medically necessary and done with respect for patients.
“Everything was done for a medical reason,” Green said. She called the general allegations baseless and said Heaps would fight them...
Full story at https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ucla-gynecologist-sued-molester-sexually-battery-heaps-20190618-story.html
Again, we remind blog readers that the scandal involves the timing of the disclosure of allegations and actions of university officials. The actual facts of the various cases will be adjudicated in what is likely to be a time-consuming process.
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