By N.S.
Behind a paywall at the st. louis post-dispatch. I'm sure it can be found elsewhere, but didn't have time to search for it.
"Patients Who Accused a UCLA Doctor of Sexual Abuse to Share Settlement
"The University of California system has agreed to pay $243.6 million to settle a lawsuit by more than 200 women, some of them cancer patients, who alleged they were sexually abused by a former UCLA gynecologist. The agreement covers 203 former patients who have sued over the conduct of Dr. James Heaps. It comes on top of a $73-million class-action settlement involving more than 5,000 patients from 1983 to 2018.
"The settlement does not cover more than 300 patients who are continuing to sue. Heaps is also facing criminal charges involving seven of those patients. Some women who said they were abused by Heaps called the settlement a vindication after complaining about the doctor for years and seeing little done."
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The health insurance plans should really make lists--of the doctors who DON'T sexually assault their patients--and the ones who do.Maybe some people(obese women?) would prefer to be molested as they maneuver into vulnerable positions--but it shouldn't be a surprise--and prices should be adjusted accordingly between the two groups of doctors.
I looked for a doctor in the mid 1990s on my Healthcare plan's brochure.Many pages of doctors and I had no clue about who was qualified--I hadn't EVER had a doctor--so I let them choose an M.D. nearby to where I lived.
This is totally a true story.
The guy turned out to be black.
I walked into the examining room and was shocked,but back then,I tended to try to give the benefit of the doubt and say,"GRA--he's black,but don't be prejudiced,he's got to be as qualified as a White guy to be recommended by my insurance(top notch plan--rhymes with Die-ority),so I soldiered on with my appointment.
In no time at all,this black quack of a doctor told me--in order--I had three months to live from cancer--had heart problems and was put on blood pressure meds--ALL of which were the wrong diagnoses.
You might ask--and I've asked myself this in looking back--why --after the first bit of total incompetence did I stick around?I guess I thought,that after such a major fu*k-up,he'd try extra hard to get things right.
He wasn't capable.
The cancer thing,he said,"I believe you have a fast moving cancer,make your arrangements.We'll send you for a confirming test,but I think you have MAYBE three months to live."
I got my blood tested--NOTHING.No cancer.
"I don't understand it,"he said.
After that episode,my blood pressure began to go up when I'd go to the office for a six month checkup.After a couple times of elevated readings,the nig doc said:
"It's 160/90,we better put you on amlydopine."
Here I was,running 3 miles a day,member of the YMCA,lifting weights,swimming,tennis--and I had high blood pressure.
I took the pills until my place of employment installed a blood pressure machine in the break room and--what do you know--it was 120/70--every time.
Next appointment,170/90.
I said,"But it's normal at work,"I informed him.
"Stay with the pills"--which I didn't.I bought my own blood pressure machine,quit the pills and saw my readings at home stay at 120/70.
"I don't understand it,"he said,"must be White coat hypertension."
More like "Incompetent black Doctor" hypertension,I thought.
I quit him the next visit.
Postscript:My next doctor,after looking up who my previous one had been,told me,"This doctor had his license revoked for malpractice."
I told him of my experiences and he just shook his head and said "I'm sorry."
The beginning of my learning about blacks--and why Whites should turn and walk out if they are in the same situation.
If you live,hopefully--you learn.
--GRA
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