Dr. Scott Lee Prison Gynecologist Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
Dr. Scott Lee, the former obstetrician-gynecologist at the California Institution for Women, or CIW, has been accused by multiple former inmates of sexual abuse. If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse or assault by Scott Lee while incarcerated at CIW, you have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable.
- Dr. Scott Lee served as the sole OB-GYN at the California Institution for Women from 2016 through 2023.
- Multiple current and former inmates of CIW have sued Lee and various prison officials over allegations of sexual abuse.
- Survivors of sexual abuse or assault by Dr. Scott Lee have rights and legal options for seeking accountability and compensation.
At the California Institution for Women, countless women have come forward in recent years with allegations of sexual abuse by prison guards and other staff, including former facility OB-GYN Dr. Scott Lee. The women allege that prison officials ignored complaints of abuse by guards and Lee, as well as punished them for reporting the abuse.
Lee is accused of repeatedly sexually harassing and physically abusing his patients from 2016 to 2023 while serving as the sole OB-GYN at the facility.
In February 2025, six women filed a class action lawsuit against Dr. Scott Lee and multiple CIW officials regarding the alleged sexual abuse of people in custody that occurred over several years. Lawyers said they brought the case as a class action on behalf of hundreds or potentially thousands of people currently or formerly incarcerated at CIW.
Understanding the Allegations of Abuse Involving Dr. Scott Lee
Dr. Scott Lee is an obstetrician-gynecologist based in California who served as the only OB-GYN at the California Institution for Women from 2016 through 2023. A recent prison inmate abuse lawsuit filed against Lee alleges he conducted abusive exams, refused to stop exams when patients were in pain, used forcible restraints, made sexualized comments, and retaliated when victims reported mistreatment. Additionally, victims allege Lee performed unwanted surgeries, performed sexualized digital penetration, and mutilated patients’ genitals.
Because Scott Lee was the only OB-GYN at CIW for seven years, victims allege they had no choice but to keep seeing him for treatment even after victimization. They say their medical care was conditioned upon enduring abuse. According to the recent class action lawsuit, prison officials were allegedly aware of the threat Lee posed to patients, but did not hold him accountable, and complaints of Lee’s mistreatment were filed as early as 2017.
Meet Our Trusted Legal Partners
For over 50 years, Milberg has held powerful defendants accountable — let us fight for you.
The Class Action Lawsuit Against Dr. Scott Lee
The class action complaint against Dr. Scott Lee was filed by six anonymous women and the California Coalition for Women Prisoners on behalf of all women incarcerated at CIW from March 2017 to May 2024 who Lee treated. According to the suit, the prison conducted an internal investigation in 2016 regarding abusive pap smears at CIW, but Lee returned to practice medicine at the facility afterward.
The lawsuit also names 18 officials of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, or CDCR, as defendants, accusing them of failing to take appropriate actions and follow protocol in response to allegations of abuse. They allegedly allowed Lee to remain on staff because they said he was the only certified OB-GYN available. Attorneys believe the class action could cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars.
Dr. Scott Lee’s Alleged History of Misconduct
In 2017, a formerly incarcerated patient sued Lee in 2017 for allegedly mutilating her genitals under the guise of a biopsy. In 2022, Lee was reported to the Medical Board of California for allegedly sexually abusing a pregnant patient. However, the Board has taken no action in response to either of these allegations.
According to the Medical Board of California, a $194,000 malpractice judgment was entered against Lee in the Orange County Superior Court in 1996, 12 years after receiving his license. Despite that judgment, other prior complaints, and an ongoing internal investigation by the CDCR, Lee’s medical license remains active as of May 2026. Meanwhile, the CDCR has said that he no longer has direct in-person contact with patients.
How To File A Civil Lawsuit Against Dr. Scott Lee
You may be able to file a civil lawsuit against Lee and other responsible parties, like California Institute for Women officials, if he has sexually abused or assaulted you. California’s civil statute of limitations gives adult victims of sexual assault 10 years from the incident or three years from discovering the harm to file a lawsuit.
How to Report Sexual Assault By Dr. Scott Lee
Reporting sexual assault and abuse is important, not just so the perpetrator and enablers of the abuse can be held accountable, but to prevent future victimization. If you are considering pursuing a civil lawsuit over abuse by Dr. Scott Lee, reporting the abuse to law enforcement or the Medical Board of California can also create a valuable paper trail.
Report To Law Enforcement
One option survivors have for reporting sexual abuse or assault is to report it to local law enforcement. Reporting creates a valuable paper trail that can prevent future harm and trigger a criminal investigation.
After someone reports sexual assault, law enforcement will investigate, and a prosecutor will determine if they can bring charges based on a variety of legal factors, such as the strength of the available evidence and the applicable laws.
In California, prosecutors can file criminal charges for adult sexual assault at any time if the assault occurred on or after January 1, 2017. For assaults that occurred before that date, the criminal statute of limitations is ten years from the incident.
Report To The Medical Board of California
Filing a sexual misconduct complaint with the Medical Board of California may prompt an investigation, especially if other complaints with similar allegations have been filed.
The Board investigates complaints involving medical doctors, including complaints of medical sexual assault. An investigation may lead to disciplinary action against the provider, including loss of their medical license. You can submit a complaint online, via mail, via email, or by calling 1-800-633-2322.
Speak with a Prison Sexual Assault Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been sexually assaulted at the California Institution for Women by Dr. Scott Lee, you have rights and legal options for holding Lee and other responsible parties accountable. An experienced prison sexual assault lawyer can evaluate your case and help you determine the best path forward for healing and justice.
At Helping Survivors, we help survivors of sexual violence access resources for support and connect them with our partner law firms for legal representation. Our partner firms file civil lawsuits against the individuals and institutions that perpetrated and enabled abuse. Survivors can recover compensation for the harm and the resulting losses they’ve suffered.
To learn more about your legal options after experiencing sexual assault, contact Helping Survivors today.
Want To Speak With A Lawyer?
