In the USA, the University of California agreed to pay a total of approximately 250 million dollars in compensation to more than 200 women who said they were sexually assaulted by a gynecologist working at the student health center.
Women, some with cancer, accused the university of trying to hide it, despite knowing that James Heaps was abusing patients.
Heaps served on the school’s Los Angeles campus from 1983 to 2018.
However, the university started an investigation into the harassment allegations in 2017. In 2019, the court banned Heaps from practicing medicine pending the outcome of the case.
There is currently a criminal case against Heaps filed by seven women. Heaps, who has been charged with 21 separate charges, denies the allegations.
It is stated that this agreement will not affect another compensation lawsuit filed by 300 women.
Regarding the agreement reached with the complaining women, the university said, “The behavior attributed to Heaps is unacceptable and incompatible with the values of our university.”
“Today, after eight long years, my experience has been confirmed,” a woman named Kara Cagle, who complained to the school administration about Heaps while undergoing breast cancer treatment, told the Los Angeles Times.
“While this is a measure of consolation for me, I feel sorry for all the women who have been victimized by the university’s refusal to act,” Cagle said.
$73 million for 5,500 women
Last July, a federal judge ordered Heaps to pay 5,500 women $73 million.
According to lawyers, Heaps was the highest paid doctor at the University of California for a term.
John C. Manley, the lawyer of one of the women in the criminal case, said that Heaps sexually assaulted patients under the appearance of an examination.
“Heaps is a gynecologist and oncologist. Most women went to him because they had cancer or thought it was cancer,” Manley said.
Heaps allegedly touched his patients during the examination, said inappropriate things, and took off their clothes without their consent.