Investigating a College Doctor

The Investigation of a College Doctor

My name is Dana Sosnowski. I'm a private investigator, and I've got a story to tell.

You won't read about it in the news. Our investigations are private. All names used in this story are fictitious. Our clients don't want a legal prosecution. They just want to know what really happened.

This story is about medical misconduct. It got me thinking about a very public misconduct case involving Dr. George Tyndall. He's the infamous University of Southern California gynecologist accused of sexual misconduct by hundreds of young coeds.

This one never got to that level. More importantly, there was no crime; or was there? Either way, this is how the case fell in my lap.

Latte in hand I walked into my PI partner's office on a sunny Monday morning. My partner Bill abruptly handed me a thumb drive and evidence folder.

Bill's brow furrowed. "Dana, I think you should handle this one personally."

"Okay, why?"

"There's a video on that drive showing possible medical misconduct at a college health clinic. The female patient involved is refusing to speak with anyone about it. The chancellor of the college thinks this would be better handled by a female investigator. Remember, Chancellor Vanderlinden is a very important client of ours."

I challenged, "Don't we frown on playing the gender game?"

Bill laughed, "Dana, don't play our bullshit back to me! This is a sensitive situation for a loyal client. Besides, once you see the evidence, you'll understand."

I pushed harder to see what Bill already knew. "Was the video obtained legally?"

"The video gives credibility to the allegations, but it might not be admissible in a court of law. Listen, we don't want it circulating around and mysteriously ending up on the internet. Be careful with it."

"Bill, who found the video?"

"It seems that the college's security officer was investigating an after-hours break-in alert at the clinic. As he scanned all active cameras, he discovered footage of a female's medical examination."

"Did he report it to the chancellor?"

"Not right away; the pervert deleted the video from the security database, but he kept a copy on this thumb drive for himself. Supposedly, it's the only copy."

I had more questions: "Then how did Chancellor Vanderlinden get it from security?"

"Eventually, the security officer's guilt got to him. He thought better of it and gave the thumb drive to Vanderlinden. Since the officer came clean, Vanderlinden had him sign a non-disclosure and demoted him."

"He should have fired him. But if no one's complaining, why are we investigating?"

"Vanderlinden wants to know why his campus physician, Dr. Jason Johnson, was treating a student after office hours. He also wants to know why a non-college employee was involved."

Something was still missing. "So why didn't Vanderlinden just ask his campus physician about it?"

"There's suspicion that Dr. Jason Johnson and a male nurse may have used drugs to take advantage of the female patient. The chancellor doesn't want to confront him without a full understanding of what happened."

"Okay then, I will keep it under lock while I investigate."

I went back to my office and opened the file. The contents included a report about possible legal exposure and an overview of health center facilities. According to the report, the student health clinic was undergoing a remodeling. The security cameras in public areas were operational.

I popped the drive into my laptop to see what was causing all the concern. I looked at the date and time stamp. The video was about a year old and took place late in the afternoon. Visuals were clear, as was the audio track.

I concluded, "That doctor probably didn't know about the cameras."

I restarted the video; the lobby looked empty; all the lights were off. Two people entered the lobby from a side entrance. The first person was male, in his late teens or early twenties. The second person was female and about the same age.

I'm thinking, "Is this just student mischief?"

Then a man in a white coat entered the lobby. He must be Dr. Jason Johnson. I put on my headphones so I could raise the volume and hear the conversation.

Dr. Johnson spoke first: "Hi Diane, as promised, I can help you today, but I'll be assisting you off-the-books so we can work around the insurance issues."

Dr. Johnson then turned towards the young male and stuck out his hand. "Hi, I'm Doctor Jason Johnson, but just call me Dr. Jason. I assume you'll be waiting for Diane?"

The young male spoke softly, "Hi, Dr. Jason, I'm Jack. Diane asked me to come with her today."

As they exchanged introductions, another male entered the lobby. Both Diane and Jack seemed alarmed at his sudden appearance.

Dr. Jason turned to them. "This is Tom, my attending registered nurse. There is a legal requirement for secondary medical personnel to be present during any medical examination."

Tom was tall and good-looking, with a strong jaw and blue eyes. He was wearing green nurse scrubs and joined the conversation. "I'm only required to be present at the location, but not part of your examination."

Looking intently at Tom, Diane replied, "If that's the case, it's agreeable with me."

I stopped the video and jotted some notes:

"Four persons of interest: Dr. Jason Johnson, RN Tom, chaperone Jack, and patient Diane.""The special arrangement was between Jason and Diane.""Diane was not expecting Tom to be involved."

Returning to the video, I watched as Diane turned to Jack. "I'll be okay; it's no big deal. They are medical professionals, and it will be over with soon."

Tom then directed Diane towards an office. As they walked, Tom advised her, "You'll need to complete a consent form and undergo a brief health interview with Jason. After the interview, he will explain what's necessary."

As the trio left the lobby without Jack, Dr. Jason turned back to Jack, his tone firm but reassuring, "Please wait here and give us about an hour. There are vending machines down the corridor near the construction area. We'll come back and find you when we're finished."

As they departed, the door closed with an audible 'click.' I could see Jack's face. He took a long exhale and stared at the door with a look of dread.

It was then I thought, "If she won't talk, I bet he might know something. He looks like he just lost control of the most important thing in his life."

With the help of facial recognition and access to college files, I soon identified the forlorn chaperone. He is a sophomore named Jack Cole.

I made arrangements to speak with Jack through his academic advisor. I couldn't tell his advisor about the investigation, so I instead offered, "I'm conducting a confidential study about health care satisfaction for the chancellor. Can you arrange a meeting for me with a student named Jack Cole?"

A few days later, Jack and I had an appointment to meet outside a coffee bar on campus.

Jack's Interview

I picked a table away from the crowd. I wanted Jack to speak freely. He walked up to me with his arms folded, very suspicious about my presence.

Jack didn't take long to reveal his mood. "What do you want from me that's so important?"

I tried to restart the conversation. "Hi Jack, I'm Dana Sosnowski. I'm a private investigator hired by Chancellor Vanderlinden."

Now Jack was nervous. "Am I in trouble or something?"

"Jack, this isn't a legal matter. Chancellor Vanderlinden is offering you full immunity and a tuition incentive for your cooperation. Anything you tell me will be confidential. He wants to know what happened that day at the clinic."

Jack frowned. "What makes you think I know anything?"

"Jack, there's a security video showing you in the lobby. You introduced yourself to Dr. Jason Johnson as Diane's chaperone. Look, you are not in any trouble, and neither is Diane. I just want to know what you saw."

Jack relaxed a bit. "Not much; I was in the lobby with Diane before she left with Dr. Jason and his male nurse, Tom. They closed the door, and I waited in the lobby."

This was going to be difficult, but I sensed I could push Jack to tell me more. "The video shows that you got up and walked down the hallway. You left the lobby for almost an hour before returning."

Jack uncrossed his arms and let them fall to his sides. I kept my tone soft, not threatening. "Why don't we just start at the beginning? How did you meet Diane?

Jack looked away and didn't answer.

I persisted. "Was it here at school?"

Jack sighed. "Yeah, she was walking across campus, and I couldn't help but notice her. She was so striking and pretty. I thought she was out of my league, but I took a risk and approached her."

"How did she respond?"

Jack finally smiled. "She was cautious at first. But I think once she sensed my sincerity, she became more open. She's a good person. She's not a tease or flirt. She's very smart and inquisitive. From the moment I met her, I knew she was special."

"Are you still together?"

"No, I'm seeing someone else now, and I really don't know what Diane's up to. But that day changed her or maybe revealed a side of her I wasn't ready for."

I was getting somewhere with Jack. I sensed he wanted to tell me what happened. "Jack, let's start with the morning of the clinic visit."

Jack's eyes looked away; he was recalling the events. "Diane told me that she was worried about a gynecological issue. But her health insurance activation had been delayed. She said she made arrangements to see the clinic doctor at no charge, and she wanted me to come for support."

Jack continued. "I was uncomfortable from the start because I was worried that she might be alone with an older guy I didn't know. Also, the whole arrangement seemed sketchy. Diane could be very stubborn, and she was determined to resolve this her way."

"Had you ever used student health before or met Dr. Jason?"

"I've only had appointments with the athletic trainer, but not at student health. I guess Diane had gone there, and that's where she met Dr. Jason. She told me he took pity on her. It was his idea to meet off-hours, and she saw it as an opportunity to get treatment without insurance involved."

"But, did you mention your concerns to Diane?"

"No, she seemed distant when I picked her up to walk to the clinic. She wore a pretty sundress, and I noticed her red bra strap poking out. That got me suspecting she was wearing sexy lingerie underneath. She wasn't the type to wear sexy lingerie, not with me. I guess it gave her more confidence. I got aroused thinking about it. But I questioned, why would she dress that way for a medical appointment?"

I had to be careful as I worked in more questions. "Were you and Diane sexually active?'

Jack shook his head. "Not anything more than kissing and petting. I wanted to do more but didn't want to pressure her. She was gradually becoming more open to me, but we hadn't gone that far."

"What happened when you got to the clinic?"

"We entered through an unlocked door and met Dr. Jason and Tom. She took control and had me wait in the lobby. I was impressed with Dr. Jason. He came off as very serious and professional.

"What about his nurse, Tom?"

"Tom gave me the creeps. He was too good-looking and too friendly. He acted sincere, but I didn't like the way he leered at Diane. I also didn't like the way she looked back at him. She had just met him and already seemed taken with him."

"Why did you leave the lobby?"

"As soon as Diane left with Dr. Jason and Tom, my stomach was turning. I thought maybe if I drank or ate something, I'd calm down."

"Did you stay at the machines the whole time you were gone?"

"I was looking for a vending machine in the construction area when I found an opening in the drywall. There was blue light coming from an adjacent room, so I crawled through the opening and went to investigate. I accidentally found a place where I could see into the examination room."

Now we were getting somewhere. I pressed him to tell me more. "How long did you stay there, and what could you see? Remember, your statements are confidential, and you have full immunity."

"I wanted to leave right then. But I couldn't. I told myself I should monitor the exam to protect Diane. Truth is I couldn't resist the temptation to see her body. I was going crazy with guilt. I got up and started to leave."

"But you didn't leave?"

"I heard voices coming from the room and saw Tom enter with Diane. Dr. Jason followed behind them. I stayed put to see what would happen. My heart was racing. I was afraid they might detect me, but my location was cloaked in darkness. I committed to staying put."

"Do you recall the conversations between Diane and Tom or Dr. Jason?"

"She answered a list of questions they had about her health. She had consented to a full examination without a female nurse present and agreed to Tom's presence. She also agreed to take a sedative to help calm her nerves."

"Jack, do you know what sedative they gave her?"

"Maybe Valium? I'm not sure, but it really pissed me off, because I couldn't tell if she was consciously consenting or if the drugs were making her more compliant."

This was an important question I had to ask. "I have to ask, do you think she was under the influence of the sedative?"

"I'm not sure, but something was off."

"What was off?"

Jack frowned. "Diane was too chatty with Tom, and he was overly attentive. Tom told us in the lobby he would wait in the office, but there he was in the exam room with Diane. Tom asked if she wanted assistance getting undressed for the exam; she said, "Yes, please."

Jack paused and continued. "The way she said it killed me. She was inviting him to help her undress. It didn't make sense; don't patients usually undress themselves?"

I wanted to show empathy. "Jack, I agree. I'd undress myself; why did Diane request Tom's help?"

"I don't know; she was not acting like the Diane I knew. She was acting flirtatious, not modest or shy."

"Where did she get undressed?"

Jack's eyes teared. "There was a changing area behind a curtain. Diane went inside, and Tom followed her. Dr. Jason waited for them outside. I couldn't see behind the curtain, so I moved to a spot deeper in the construction zone. My heart sank when I saw what was happening."

"You can't control another person's actions."

Jack gathered himself. "I know, but up until that moment she was my first real sweetheart. I had never seen her in her underwear for more than a moment. Tom had only known her for 15 minutes, and there he was pulling down her dress zipper."

"How did she react?"

"She faced him and dropped her dress to the floor. She stared straight at him in her red bra and bikini panties. She looked so innocent, yet so sexy. She made no attempt to cover herself. Without him asking, she unclasped her bra and gave it to him."

"Did Tom offer further instructions to her?"

"He told her that she should be nude from 'head to toe.' She said, 'Okay,' and then she stepped towards him. He moved closer to her and pulled her panties down to her ankles. She stepped out of them as he picked them up from the floor."

"That does sound a bit too provocative for a medical exam."

"It was the view I wanted to see for so long, but for my eyes only. She seemed to welcome the way he looked at her. She was stunning in the nude, better than I dreamed. Her breasts stood out firmly, and her soft, hairy vulva was neatly trimmed. I had to wonder if she had planned on being nude that day and looking good."

"Did Tom make sexual advances towards her?"

Jack's fist clenched. "Not then; that bastard just took in her beauty at close range. He had her turn around as he looked her up and down. He took his time inspecting her breasts, buttocks, and vulva. He didn't touch her body. Eventually, he helped her put on a blue examination gown."

"Was that part of the examination?"

"It was only the very beginning. Diane and Tom walked to the examination table where Dr. Jason waited. The lighting in the room was very bright. You could see every detail of her facial expressions and her features. She sat up on the table while Dr. Jason went through all the basics, like blood pressure, weight, etc. Tom just listened and took notes. I thought it was almost over, but then Dr. Jason mentioned a breast exam."

"Jack, you said earlier that Diane signed a consent form?"

"Yes, she consented to a full examination. I should have known that meant full nudity. But it still shocked me to see a strange older man fondling her breasts without any resistance from Diane. She closed her eyes, and she almost smiled as he felt her up. Like she was enjoying it. She was never so open with me."

I thought maybe Jack needed a timeout. "Jack, do you want to take a break?"

Jack looked determined now. "No, I'd rather get this over with. Maybe it's good for me to get this off my chest. You see, I never told anyone about that day. I just kept it to myself."

"Jack, tell me about the rest of the examination."

"I really never knew much about female medical examinations, so I was not prepared for how exposed she was. After watching Diane's examination, I don't think I'd want my girlfriend or wife to ever see a male doctor."

"Jack, that's understandable, but most doctors I know are very respectful, male or female."

"Well, at least Dr. Jason wasn't creepy. He seemed to be detached and matter-of-fact, like her nudity was nothing new to him. He guided Diane into the stirrups and spread her legs wide open. The gown she wore covered her from the waist up. Dr. Jason draped a blanket over each leg. It was the first time I'd personally viewed a woman's open vagina. I hate to admit how aroused I was."

"That's normal, Jack; any guy would react the same way."

"I thought that the worst of her examination was almost over. Then I heard Diane complain about being too hot under the lights. She asked Tom to help remove her gown and blankets. He did so, and she was nude from head to toe under the bright lights with her legs wide open. That image is seared into my brain."

"Did something else happen between Tom and Diane?"

"Dr. Jason said he was about to complete her examination and asked Diane if Tom could assist with finishing up. Diane agreed, and then Tom began to molest Diane."

"Where was Dr. Jason, and why did you say 'molest?"

"Dr. Jason walked back to the office, leaving Tom alone with Diane. Tom positioned himself between Diane's legs and placed his hand on her thigh. They looked at each other for a moment, and then Diane nodded her head, like she was saying yes. She placed her hands on her buttocks and pulled them open. I watched in shock as Tom spread open her labia with his bare hands. He wasn't wearing gloves like Dr. Jason."

"What else happened?"

"He started massaging the area around her clitoris in a circular motion, and her breathing grew more rapid. Her vagina got really wet with moisture. He used two fingers to pull back on her clitoral hood and then slid them up and down her labia. Then Tom finger-fucked her to orgasm. He pushed his fingers deep into her vagina, up to his knuckles. Diane was not resisting. She was moaning and convulsing with pleasure. I knew right then that things could never be the same for us. It was like she intended to have a sexual awakening with him, and it sure didn't include me."

"I can't imagine how difficult that was for you. How long did this last?"

"I lost track of time watching them, but I think the whole affair lasted about 20 minutes. Look, I'm no saint; I wanted to do the same things with her. I violated her privacy. I don't judge her for being sexual; I just wish it could have been with me."

"How did the examination end?"

"I was getting up to go back to the lobby when I saw her get up and slide off the examination table. She started walking to the changing area. She was still fully nude and didn't care about covering herself. Tom followed her behind the curtain. I went back to the spot that allowed me a view behind the curtain. As if getting undressed by Tom wasn't enough, she asked him to help her get dressed."

"Did Tom continue assisting Diane?"

"He did more than that. Tom sat on a chair facing Diane and pulled her close to him. He used his bare hands to rub lotion all over her body. His hands were everywhere, and she just looked into his eyes like she was in a trance. Eventually he helped her with her bra and panties like she was helpless. Once she was fully dressed, she returned to meet me in the lobby. When she saw me, she acted like nothing much had happened."

"What did she say to you?"

"She flat out lied to me. She didn't go into much detail about the examination or the changing area with Tom. She could see I was upset, but I couldn't tell her why. She admitted the exam required some 'brief nudity,' but she insisted that Tom and Dr. Jason were 'very respectful."

Jack paused. "Yeah, right."

Jack continued. "She gushed with appreciation for how nice Tom had been to her. Finally, she said she was tired and asked me to walk her home."

"Jack, did you speak with Dr. Jason or Tom afterwards?"

"No, they kept their distance from me. It was like they wanted Diane and me to leave the clinic right away. I've never gone back to student health because it triggers too many memories and bad feelings."

"How much longer did you continue to date Diane?"

"Diane and I only lasted a few weeks after that day. She was treating me differently and became more distant. I knew the end was near. It was like I no longer measured up. I was suspicious that she was secretly trying to contact Tom again."

"Did you ever ask Diane about Tom?"

"No, but Diane stopped being affectionate with me. She said she needed time to think things out. Then one afternoon, she really shocked me. She suddenly wanted to have sex and was really aggressive about it. I blew it. I was not emotionally ready, and I couldn't satisfy her. I always thought I would be a good lover, but I wasn't mature enough to handle a sexually aggressive woman."

"When did you break up?"

"The afternoon of our failed sexual encounter was the last time I was with Diane. She told me she needed space and stopped contacting me. I just let her go. I realized I needed to move on with my life. I've got a good thing going with my new girlfriend, and I'm a lot wiser now."

"Jack, that's it. I've got no more questions for you."

"Ms. Dana, what will you tell Chancellor Vanderlinden?"

"I'm going to filter out most of what you told me, especially the part about you secretly viewing Diane's examination. I don't think there's any ethical violation I can tie Dr. Jason to other than breaking school policy and allowing a non-employee into the clinic. Since Diane was old enough to consent, there's not much I can recommend beyond that."

"Jack, you could report Tom to the state nursing board, but that might create difficulties for you. You'd have to reveal everything. Plus, you'd need Diane to file a complaint."

"No, I'm never going to reveal anything. I figure it's Diane's business, and if she's not complaining, I have no right to say anything."

"Jack, you're being very mature and understanding about what you saw. I would have expected more anger."

"I lied to you about not telling anybody about it. I spoke to my uncle about what happened, and he told me you never really own a beautiful woman. Nor can you tell what she will do when you're not there. Sometimes it's just your turn, and you need to enjoy it while it lasts. He also told me to forgive her for lying to me and let her go. There will be plenty of other new opportunities for me."

I stood up. "That's great advice. Jack, just so you know, there was a camera in the examination room. The camera angle is limited and only shows Diane from the waist up. It doesn't show her examination or activity in the changing room."

I shook Jack's hand. "Your insight helped me clear this up for the chancellor. If you ever need the help of a PI, I will give you a free investigation. Goodbye and good luck."

That's my story. I never was able to get Diane to speak with me. She invoked physician/patient confidentiality; smart girl. What happened in the clinic is nobody's business but her own. She never found out about the video or Jack's spying. I agree that a young woman's sexual awakening is her personal business.

I wonder what would have happened if Jack and Diane hadn't visited the clinic that day or met Tom. Perhaps they would have developed a lasting relationship, but I suspect emotionally and sexually Diane was already leaving Jack behind. He just didn't know it yet. That's usually the case with young love; girls mature much faster than boys.

Based on my report, Dr. Jason Johnson was called to Chancellor Vanderlinden's office. The chancellor only reprimanded him because he was well liked by staff and students, and it was too difficult to find a good replacement.

As for Tom, I did more investigating. I saw firsthand why Diane was so taken with him. His tall, chiseled body and striking blue eyes were intoxicating. I discovered that he left nursing and opened a therapeutic massage practice. I'm tempted to give his new practice a try.

D. S.