A University of Southern California Doctor is being accused of sexually abusing 48 patients under the pretense of medical examinations.
What We Know:
- Forty-eight former patients identifying as gay or bisexual have come forward to speak out against the University of Southern California’s Student Health Center’s Dr. Dennis Kelly. The patients have all given similar statements recalling their experiences while utilizing the center.
- Patients recall Dr. Kelly inappropriately groping their genitals, making them kneel naked on exam tables and asking extremely unnecessary questions about their partners and lifestyle. One patient recalls Dr. Kelly, without warning inserting a metal probe into his anal canal and quietly asking “How often do you let your partner cum in you?”
- Five of the men who have come forward have said that they made complaints regarding Dr. Kelly to the University, yet their complaints were not met with action on his behalf. Some of the student’s complaints went unanswered. One patient says that when he spoke out to an official of USC, he was told that the incident occurred too long ago to determine its’ validity.
- These men are now suing Kelly for sexual harassment, sexual battery and gender violence. Many students are taking actions against the university as well due to negligence and concealing their complaints of sexual abuse.
- This is not the first time USC has been in the spotlight in terms of sexual crimes or misconduct. This is the same health center that gynecologist George Tyndall practiced in while he was employed at USC. He has being charged with 29 felony counts of sexual crimes against 700 women.
- After 20 years of working in the campus’ health center at the University of Southern California, Dennis Kelly, 72, stopped seeing patients in July of 2018 and later resigned the next month.
- Before his time at USC, Kelly was employed with UCLA. There were no reports or documents alluding to any sexual misconduct while at UCLA, until now. Quentin Lee, now 48, says that he entered the university in 1994 as a graduate student and he utilized the center while he was experiencing “cold and flu” symptoms. He says that Dr. Kelly insisted on performing a rectal exam. He returned in 1996 and was subjected to the same exam.
- In 2002, Kelly departed ways with UCLA. He received a confidential settlement of $68,320 and was barred from seeking employment at any University of California campus. UCLA claims that the funds were unrelated to any allegations of sexual misconduct.
- The Los Angeles Times reports that Brenda Maceo, a university spokeswoman, says that “the university is aware of the lawsuits and are concerned about the allegations.” She adds that they’re “working to understand the facts of this matter. We care deeply about our entire Trojan family, including our LGBTQ-plus community, and take this matter very seriously.”
Former graduate student, Quentin Lee of UCLA is not seeking any actions towards UCLA or Kelly, but says by sharing his story, he wants to show support to the other victims. As of now, Dr. Dennis Kelly remains a free man.
