Former University of Southern California (USC) campus gynaecologist George Tyndall, who had been set to stand trial over accusations he sexually assaulted patients, has died, his defence attorney said on Thursday (Oct 5).
Tyndall's lawyer, Leonard Levine, told Reuters on Thursday that a close friend found Tyndall unresponsive after he failed to return phone calls. He said the cause of death was likely natural and Tyndall seemed to have died in his sleep.
Tyndall, who had denied wrongdoing, lost his medical licence and was charged with sexually assaulting 21 patients under the guise of gynaecological treatment or exams.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence for him to stand trial, which was expected to begin next year.
In 2021, USC reached a record US$852 million (S$1165 million) settlement with more than 700 women who had accused Tyndall of sexually abusing them as patients and the prestigious school of trying to cover it up. University officials have acknowledged failing to act on a number of complaints made against Tyndall but denied a deliberate cover-up.
Tyndall practised at USC for nearly 30 years before the private, Los Angeles-based university suspended him in 2016.
"All he ever wanted was his day in court, which he was confident would end in his complete exoneration," Levine said, reiterating that his client denied all allegations.
The accusers of Tyndall said his death meant he avoided accountability.
"I'm not happy that he died. I wanted to see him convicted for what he did," Audry Nafziger, a former patient who accused Tyndall of abuse, told the LA Times.
"He got away with it... I'm at a loss to explain this to my clients," said John Manly, an attorney of Tyndall's accusers.
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