Dr. Thomas Tyma Faces 18th Accuser in Indecent Assault Cases

Dr. Thomas Tyma, the Wexford rheumatologist who has been charged with inappropriately touching female patients, faced his 18th accuser Wednesday at a preliminary hearing.

The woman testified that Tyma briefly touched her left breast as he finished up an examination while she was in UPMC Passavant Hospital -- McCandless last year.

Magisterial District Judge William Wagner ordered Tyma to stand trial on the indecent assault charge, sending the case to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. A formal arraignment is set for June 1.

Tyma, 54, of Sewickley has pleaded not guilty.

His attorney, Stanton D. Levenson, asked the judge to dismiss the charges, saying the state had not proven impropriety because it did not call a medical expert to define a routine medical exam.

"You cannot assume it was inappropriate," he said. "What she described was a routine rheumatological examination."

The woman testified that Tyma had leaned over her during the exam and as he straightened up he grabbed her left breast very quickly.

The woman is not identified because she is the alleged victim of sexual assault. 

Assistant District Attorney Michael Ball argued that the woman testified the medical exam was over when the inappropriate touching occurred and nothing was said by the doctor as to why the breast was touched.

The woman said she did not ask or say anything to the doctor about the incident.

"I was very surprised; I was shocked. It happened so quick," she testified.

This was the first case against Tyma that was heard in Wagner's courtroom.

Three previous preliminary hearings were presided over by Magisterial District Judge Regis Welsh Jr., who ordered Tyma to stand trial on charges of indecent assault and harassment in those cases. Seventeen women testified against Tyma in those three preliminary hearings.

One preliminary hearing remains -- it is scheduled for May 24 in Lawrence County. Levenson, however, said he is working to get that case moved to Allegheny County.

In that case, a woman told New Castle City Police that Tyma touched her inappropriately when she was treated at Jameson Hospital South Campus. He has been charged with indecent assault and harassment in that case.

Tyma's license has been suspended by the state's medical board. Until his arrest, he practiced at Allegheny North Arthritis Center.