USC Student Describes Gynecologist's Alleged Sexual Battery

LOS ANGELES, CA — Women's rights attorney Gloria Allred announced the filing of another lawsuit against USC Tuesday, alleging that longtime university gynecologist Dr. George Tyndall sexually battered a female student during an exam in 2016.

Allred also said she is calling on the university to conduct an "independent investigation of the very serious allegations made by these students who allege that for many years USC knew of inappropriate conduct by Dr. Tyndall but failed to take appropriate measures to protect innocent students who were under his care."

"It is Dr. Tyndall and USC which must be held accountable," she said. "

Allred also read a statement from another former USC student who asked to remain anonymous but claims Tyndall took photographs of her during an exam in 1991 and that she complained to the director of the health clinic and notified the USC women's advocacy office.

"Assuming these allegations made by witness Jane Doe are true, USC was told as early as 1991 about Dr. Tyndall's sexual misconduct," Allred said. "Jane Doe alleges she reported it then to the clinical medical director, a female nurse and USC's women's advocacy office. The fact that USC failed to take appropriate action to protect students from Dr. Tyndall after that is inexcusable."

The lawsuit announced by Allred Tuesday was filed on behalf of Daniella Mohazab, a USC student seeking a master's degree in communications management. Mohazab said she saw Tyndall in 2016 for a sexually transmitted disease test. She said Tyndall made comments about her Filipina heritage, including telling her that "Filipinas are good in bed."

When the exam began, she said, "without a glove, he put two fingers in me and felt around."

"... He felt around by moving his fingers around inside for a few minutes," she said. "He said that this was part of an STD test. He didn't use a speculum or any other medical tools. He then stuck the swab into me and smiled. He then put it in a vial and said we were done.

"... At the time, he made me feel extremely uncomfortable and violated, however, I trusted that USC would have a gynecologist who was performing STD exams properly. ... I am still in shock that USC had heard about Dr. Tyndall's inappropriate conduct and allowed him to continue practicing."

On Monday, at least a half-dozen other women sued the university over alleged misconduct by Tyndall. The university issued a statement to the Los Angeles Times Monday saying it was aware of the lawsuits, but the university is "focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and providing support to those affected."

The Times also reported that USC Provost Michael Quick sent a letter Monday to Tyndall's former patients.

"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 in the letter, according to The Times. "We would never knowingly put students in harm's way."

City News Service; Image: Youtube screengrab