Jan 24, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Indian Health Service sued for ignoring alleged sexual abuse

Three Native American men are suing the Indian Health Service, saying it failed to protect them from sexual abuse by a pediatrician about 30 years ago, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Background: WSJ and PBS series "Frontline" revealed last year that IHS officials tried to silence whistleblowers and ignored complaints about the doctor's behavior. Congressional hearings and five federal investigations followed.

IHS, which provides medical care for 2.6 million tribal members, employed the pediatrician for 30 years before he resigned in 2016.

What to watch: A White House task force is expected to release recommendations next month about how to further protect IHS patients, per WSJ.

Go deeper: Nearly 70 patients died in Indian Health Service's care

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