Chinese students 'favored' by gynecologist accused of misconduct

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Dr George Tyndall, 71, a gynecologist at the University of Southern California Los Angeles campus clinic, behaved improperly with female students during physical exams for 30 years, according to a newspaper investigation. Chinese students became his main targets in later years.

A journalist from the Los Angeles Times interviewed more than 20 current and former medical staff and students of USC and also researched hundreds of documents in the past year. After the publication of its damning report, police also started an investigation.

Dr. George Tyndall, criminal suspect, 71, a former gynecologist at the University of Southern California Los Angeles campus clinic. /Chinacom Photo

Chelsea Wu, a former USC student and one of the interviewers from Los Angeles Times, recalled her memories when she was 19 and walked into Tyndall’s exam room at USC’s student health clinic. She used “naive” to describe herself when she was a sophomore who had never previously seen a gynecologist without her parents.

“I was blindly trusting of doctors. I pretty much followed what they say,” Wu said.

She recalled that in her 2016 appointment, Tyndall asked questions about her sex life. He showed his interest in Chinese culture and made comments about the tone of her pelvic muscle when he put his fingers inside her.

Wu was unaware that Tyndall’s behavior was inappropriate until she read the Los Angeles Times article on Tuesday that detailed how the USC received reports about Tyndall’s disturbing behavior and finally left him go last summer.

As early as 1990, the paper said nurses and patients of the medical clinic cast doubt on the methods of Tyndall. He took pictures of their private parts, required them to take all their clothes off and asked questions unrelated to health or medicine.

The entrance to the Engemann Student Health Center on the campus of the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California. /VCG Photo‍

Although many female patients had filed complaints to the USC over the past years, the university continued to allow Tyndall to work until last year. He left with a generous pension. The university reported the matter to the police only after the Los Angeles Times began its investigation.

The paper heard from former students and colleagues that Tyndall preferred Chinese students since he had lots of Chinese patients who were inexperienced on sexual issues.

The former student Wu recalled that once he took out a map of China and asked more information about the country. “It took 15 or 20 minutes, longer than my pelvic exam,” she said. "I didn't understand why I was explaining this to my doctor because it was totally unrelated to my health."

The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles is seriously concerned about the case. It has asked the school to immediately investigate it and take effective measures to ensure that Chinese students can be protected from infringement.

USC President C.L. Max Nikias has issued a public apology on Tuesday, calling Tyndall’s conduct "a profound breach of trust."

"On behalf of the university, I sincerely apologize to any student who may have visited the student health center and did not receive the respectful care each individual deserves," he said.