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A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Dr. Scott Lee, a former gynecologist at the California Institution for Women (CIW), alleging he sexually abused incarcerated patients for years while prison officials ignored repeated warnings, The Guardian reported last week. The lawsuit, brought by six women but representing potentially hundreds of incarcerated individuals, details “horrific, sadistic” abuse under the guise of medical care.
Systematic Abuse Behind Bars
According to the lawsuit, Lee, a 70-year-old OB-GYN, was the sole gynecologist on staff at CIW from 2016 to 2023. During that time, he allegedly subjected patients to coerced and unnecessary procedures, refused to stop exams despite their distress, forcibly restrained women who resisted, and made lewd, sexualized comments about their bodies. Victims say they had no choice but to seek treatment from him, as there was no alternative provider.
“For so many of these people, their gynecological care was conditioned upon being abused,” said Yashna Eswaran, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs. “If they refused treatment from him because they felt unsafe, they didn’t get to see another provider.”
The lawsuit paints a horrifying picture of abuse, citing numerous instances where Lee allegedly violated his patients under the pretense of medical necessity. One plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe 4, saw Lee while seven-and-a-half months pregnant. She requested privacy to undress, but Lee refused to leave the room. According to the lawsuit, he then fondled her, forcefully pressed on her vaginal area, and digitally penetrated her without explanation, causing her to bleed for days. “I felt like he was raping my baby,” she later said in a statement.
Another plaintiff, Jane Doe 6, reported that Lee required invasive procedures at nearly every visit, often leaving her without lab results or follow-up treatment. She described being subjected to excessively painful exams and, when she asked him to stop, he allegedly forced her legs open so violently that he left bruises. The suit claims Lee also inserted his fingers anally without consent and became hostile when questioned.
A Long-Ignored Pattern of Abuse
The lawsuit alleges that prison officials were aware of Lee’s misconduct for years but failed to act. As early as 2017, a formerly incarcerated woman accused Lee of mutilating her genitals under the guise of performing a biopsy. She filed a complaint begging officials to stop him from harming women at CIW, yet he remained in his position. In 2022, Lee was reported to the Medical Board of California for sexually abusing a pregnant patient and delaying her transport to a hospital when she went into labor. Still, no disciplinary action was taken.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), the agency responsible for California’s prisons, declined to comment on the allegations but confirmed that Lee “no longer has direct in-person contact with patients.” However, attorneys representing the survivors argue that this is far too little, too late.
A Broader Crisis of Abuse in Women’s Prisons
The case against Lee is the latest in a string of disturbing revelations about sexual abuse in California’s women’s prisons. Just weeks ago, a former guard at a different California women’s prison, Gregory Rodriguez, was convicted of 64 counts of sexual abuse against incarcerated women. A Guardian investigation in 2023 found that the prison had received reports of his misconduct as early as 2014 but had punished the victims instead of removing him.
California’s federal women’s prison system has also been plagued by abuse scandals, with one facility shutting down entirely after reports of rampant sexual misconduct by officers, including its warden.
A Fight for Justice Led by Survivors
The allegations against Lee might have remained hidden if not for the persistence of incarcerated women themselves. Advocates with the California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP) say the lawsuit is the result of survivors organizing from within prison walls.
“One of the most powerful things about this case is that one woman went cell-to-cell asking people about their experiences, and what she found was a pattern of abuse,” said Colby Lenz, an advocate with CCWP, which is also a plaintiff in the case. “This was advocacy on the inside and a lot of survivors coming together to take a stand and make sure others wouldn’t be victimized by him.”
Many victims were particularly vulnerable because they had experienced sexual abuse or domestic violence before their incarceration, making Lee’s alleged actions even more devastating. Some women were so terrified of being abused that they refused gynecological care altogether. “People heard about what he’d done and were terrified,” said attorney Jenny Huang. “They chose to deprive themselves of medical care just to keep themselves safe from sexual abuse.”
Holding Those Responsible
The lawsuit seeks justice not only against Lee but also against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) for its role in enabling his abuse. Attorneys for the plaintiffs argue that prison officials failed to protect incarcerated women, allowing Lee to continue his predatory behavior despite clear warning signs.
This case adds to mounting calls for systemic reform in the way prisons handle sexual misconduct allegations. Survivors and advocates are demanding greater oversight, stricter accountability for abusive medical staff, and an end to the culture of silence that allows such crimes to persist.
For survivors of sexual abuse in prisons, this lawsuit is a critical step toward justice. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse while incarcerated, a SurvivorsRights.com advocate can help connect you with legal support to seek justice and compensation.
