UCLA apologizes after gynecologist charged with sexual battery

The University of California, Los Angeles, apologized on Monday for the behavior of a longtime gynecologist who was criminally charged with sexual battery by fraud against two patients.

Dr. James Heaps pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday and was released without bail, Reuters reported. His attorney called the allegations baseless, according to the AP.

UCLA first began investigating Heaps after receiving a complaint about “inappropriate and medically unnecessary touching and communications during a gynecologic procedure,” according to a Q&A section on UCLA’s website.

The school said that since it launched its investigation, three other patients have come forward with similar allegations. UCLA is now asking other patients or students to come forward if they have complaints against him.

“Sexual abuse in any form is unacceptable and represents an inexcusable breach of the physician-patient relationship,” UCLA Chancellor Gene Block and former Chancellor John Mazziotta said in a statement. “We are deeply sorry that a former UCLA physician violated our policies and standards, our trust and the trust of his patients.”

Heaps worked at UCLA since 1983

Read more: 93 more women accuse a former USC gynecologist of sexual abuse and say the university ignored decades of complaints

Heaps has been working at UCLA since 1983, when he began a fellowship in gynecologic oncology, and worked part-time at the UCLA student health center until 2010. He was then hired by UCLA Health in 2014. The sexual battery charges stem from incidents that occurred in 2017 and 2018 at UCLA Health, the AP reported.

UCLA said after its investigation, Heaps was removed from clinical practice and informed that he would be fired. He announced his retirement shortly afterward. UCLA also reported him to the Medical Board of California and police.

Compensation records show that Heaps earned $1.045 million in 2017, the most recent year for which the university’s pay data is available.

UCLA said it also commissioned an independent review of its handling of the sexual misconduct allegations, and will “identify and implement necessary changes across all of UCLA’s clinical sites.”