LOS ANGELES (KNX) — The University of California, Los Angeles faces a second lawsuit regarding one of its gynecologists. Edward Wiesmeier, who oversaw student health services for more than 25 years, is accused of sexually battery in a suit filed by a former student.
The student, identified as Jane Doe, claims that Wiesmeier touched women’s bodies for his own sexual gratification and she was “subjected to sexual contact” and an “excruciatingly painful and sexually abusive ‘procedure’” by Wiesmeier in the early 2000s, according to The Los Angeles Times.
The lawsuit, The Times reported, was filed Thursday in L.A. County Superior Court and names both the doctor and university as defendants.
“As UCLA’s own special committee report acknowledges, Dr. Wiesmeier’s treatment of UCLA students far exceeded the boundaries of acceptable medical practice, and we believe was, in fact, sexual assault,” Jennifer McGrath, who represents Jane Doe, told the newspaper.
Wiesmeier is yet another UCLA gynecologist to come under fire for sexual assault allegations. Two years ago Dr. James Heaps was arrested and pleaded not guilty to 21 felony sex charges.
This January a judge approved a $73 million class-action settlement with former patients who accused Heaps of sexual battery. In the settlement, Heaps and UCLA did not admit any wrongdoing.
In an undated statement shared by UCLA, the university named five former physicians who were involved in allegations of sexual misconduct by a clinician. The names included Heaps, Wiesmeier, Dr. Mark Weissman, Dr. Steven Weinstein and Dr. Dennis Kelly.
In response to the allegations, the university said “we remain committed to rapidly enacting policies and procedures to protect patients. Certain changes, though not all, were underway at UCLA Health and the Ashe Center months before allegations against Dr. James Heaps came to our attention, and when we learned of those allegations, we responded decisively to implement even broader improvements.”
UCLA went on to say that it expressed gratitude to those who came forward and shared information that helped the ongoing process of ensuring our patients’ safety.
“We are deeply sorry that any of our patients were mistreated in the course of care,” the university added.
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