Lawsuit Says USC Student Was Sexually Assaulted Whenever She Refilled Birth Control Pills

Another former University of Southern California (USC) student says she was repeatedly molested by former gynecologist George Tyndall, indicating that the college did nothing to stop the inappropriate conduct that occurred each time she refilled her birth control pills, despite numerous complaints involving sexual assault at the USC student health center. 

The complaint (PDF) was filed in California Superior Court in Los Angeles on September 27, presenting claims on behalf of a plaintiff identified only as “Jane Doe 1”. Former student health center gynecologist Dr. George Tyndall, The University of Southern California and 50 unidentified persons were named as defendants in the lawsuit.

The plaintiff indicates that she was a USC student from 2003 through 2007, during which time Tyndall was her gynecologist. She says she requested a female doctor originally, but was told there was not one available.

According to the lawsuit, every time she had to get her birth control pill prescription renewed, Tyndall had her strip completely naked, dress in a medical gown, and conducted a pelvic examination that involved inserting his fingers into her vagina. She notes that Tyndall would only give her short-term prescriptions, requiring frequent visits. The lawsuit indicates she had never had a gynecological examination and was unfamiliar with the proper behavior and practices.

“Tyndall only provided Plaintiff with these short-term prescriptions and required her to submit to subsequent, medically unnecessary pelvic examinations so that Tyndall could gain regular access to Plaintiff to continue his pattern and practice of abuse and harassment of Plaintiff,” the lawsuit states.

The complaint also notes that Tyndall made inappropriate comments about her genitalia. At one time, positioning himself between her spread legs while she was only wearing a medical gown and her legs were in the stirrups, Tyndall reportedly told her “your boyfriend is a lucky guy.”

To date, nearly 300 women have filed USC sexual assault lawsuits, and a number of class action claims have been brought to pursue damages on behalf of all students treated by the former gynecologist at the student health center.

In May, USC President C. L. Max Nikias agreed to resign just days after he sent a letter to students and staff announcing the results of an investigation into allegations that Tyndall engaged in inappropriate behavior with USC students for decades while working as a gynecologist in the university health clinic.

Tyndall was allowed to retire in June 2017, and to date faces no criminal charges, despite dozens of claims that he assaulted female patients, and made both sexually suggestive and racist comments for years.

While USC indicated that it could find no evidence of criminal conduct, the University acknowledged in the statement that Tyndall’s behavior was unacceptable, and should not have been tolerated for so long.

The pattern of USC student sexual abuse was only addressed by the university after a nurse, frustrated with the lack of response to numerous complaints, took the issue to the campus’s rape crisis center. That led to an investigation of Tyndall, along with a suspension of his duties, and eventually a deal between Tyndall and USC that culminated in his retirement.

The University only reported his activities to the California Medical Board in March, after Tyndall contacted USC indicating that he wanted his job back.