A former Kaiser Permanente doctor, Dr. Barry Lall, agreed to the revocation of his California medical license following allegations of sexual misconduct from several women patients during physical exams. The state attorney general's office initially accused Lall of inappropriate behavior and gross negligence with five women, but after news of the case spread, five additional women came forward with similar accusations, including one incident that allegedly occurred just a month prior.
According to court records, the allegations from the initial five cases—four at Kaiser and one at Scripps Ranch Medical Clinic—included Lall administering massages while standing between patients' legs, sometimes pressing his body against them as they sat wearing paper gowns.
Two women involved in the attorney general’s case, Anna Hartsough and LeeAnn Heck, criticized Kaiser for not responding swiftly enough to complaints about Lall. Hartsough, a 32-year-old flight attendant, saw Lall in 1988 for injuries from a car accident. She was the third woman to accuse him of misconduct, expressing that Kaiser’s delayed action allowed more patients to be endangered. Heck, who saw Lall for a thyroid issue in January 1989, was the fourth to complain, saying that the misconduct should have been stopped sooner.
Kaiser officials defended their response, saying they had acted in a timely manner, conducting investigations after each complaint. They claimed the first complaint was filed in 1986, with no further reports until late 1988. Jim McBride, a Kaiser spokesperson, stated that Lall was counseled and monitored during the investigations, which led to his eventual suspension in 1989.
Heck, however, believed that Kaiser failed to enforce precautions, such as ensuring a nurse was present during Lall’s exams. In all five cases of alleged misconduct, no nurse was present, a failure she believed could have prevented further incidents. Heck and Hartsough both sued Lall for malpractice, receiving a $25,000 settlement.
After leaving Kaiser in April 1989, Lall joined Scripps Ranch Medical Clinic, where another patient accused him of misconduct. She alleged that during a visit for a headache, Lall directed her to change into a paper gown and massaged her buttocks while pressing against her.
Barry's attorney, John Murphy, stated that his client planned to leave the medical profession, claiming the accusations were based on a "misinterpretation" of his compassionate approach to treatment. The attorney general's office, however, had no comment on the case.
This case marks the third instance of a San Diego physician facing sexual misconduct allegations in recent weeks. Authorities are uncertain whether more victims are coming forward or if there is an increase in such incidents, but the medical board’s growing resources have led to more investigations.
Despite the charges, Lall, a respected member of San Diego’s Indian-American community, received support from over 200 community members who petitioned Governor Pete Wilson to dismiss the case, arguing that Lall had high moral standards.
Barry Lall, moved to San Diego in 1984 and became a partner in Kaiser Permanente in 1986, just four months after the first complaint was lodged. A settlement was reached on Wednesday, canceling a hearing about his medical license. His license will be officially revoked pending approval from the state’s medical board within two months.
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According to court records, the allegations from the initial five cases—four at Kaiser and one at Scripps Ranch Medical Clinic—included Lall administering massages while standing between patients' legs, sometimes pressing his body against them as they sat wearing paper gowns.
Two women involved in the attorney general’s case, Anna Hartsough and LeeAnn Heck, criticized Kaiser for not responding swiftly enough to complaints about Lall. Hartsough, a 32-year-old flight attendant, saw Lall in 1988 for injuries from a car accident. She was the third woman to accuse him of misconduct, expressing that Kaiser’s delayed action allowed more patients to be endangered. Heck, who saw Lall for a thyroid issue in January 1989, was the fourth to complain, saying that the misconduct should have been stopped sooner.
Kaiser officials defended their response, saying they had acted in a timely manner, conducting investigations after each complaint. They claimed the first complaint was filed in 1986, with no further reports until late 1988. Jim McBride, a Kaiser spokesperson, stated that Lall was counseled and monitored during the investigations, which led to his eventual suspension in 1989.
Heck, however, believed that Kaiser failed to enforce precautions, such as ensuring a nurse was present during Lall’s exams. In all five cases of alleged misconduct, no nurse was present, a failure she believed could have prevented further incidents. Heck and Hartsough both sued Lall for malpractice, receiving a $25,000 settlement.
After leaving Kaiser in April 1989, Lall joined Scripps Ranch Medical Clinic, where another patient accused him of misconduct. She alleged that during a visit for a headache, Lall directed her to change into a paper gown and massaged her buttocks while pressing against her.
Barry's attorney, John Murphy, stated that his client planned to leave the medical profession, claiming the accusations were based on a "misinterpretation" of his compassionate approach to treatment. The attorney general's office, however, had no comment on the case.
This case marks the third instance of a San Diego physician facing sexual misconduct allegations in recent weeks. Authorities are uncertain whether more victims are coming forward or if there is an increase in such incidents, but the medical board’s growing resources have led to more investigations.
Despite the charges, Lall, a respected member of San Diego’s Indian-American community, received support from over 200 community members who petitioned Governor Pete Wilson to dismiss the case, arguing that Lall had high moral standards.
Barry Lall, moved to San Diego in 1984 and became a partner in Kaiser Permanente in 1986, just four months after the first complaint was lodged. A settlement was reached on Wednesday, canceling a hearing about his medical license. His license will be officially revoked pending approval from the state’s medical board within two months.
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