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A gynecologist at a California prison sexually abused people in custody for years, subjecting them to “horrific, sadistic” mistreatment under the guise of medical care, according to a lawsuit filed by six women this week.
The class-action complaint announced on Wednesday alleges that Dr Scott Lee, a 70-year-old OB-GYN, repeatedly sexually harassed and physically abused his patients behind bars at the California Institution for Women (CIW) from 2016 to 2023 while he was the sole gynecologist on staff.
A 93-page complaint filed in federal court details allegations that Lee conducted abusive exams and coercive procedures, refused to stop exams when patients were in pain, forcibly restrained them when they expressed discomfort, made inappropriate and sexualized comments and retaliated against incarcerated victims who complained about his mistreatment.