Dr. Thomas Tyma Found Guilty on All Counts for Inappropriately Touching Female Patients

After spending the morning testifying that he would never touch a patient inappropriately, Dr. Thomas Tyma was found guilty Monday of indecent assault on 17 women who were his rheumatology patients.

Common Pleas Court Judge Donna Jo McDaniel found Tyma guilty of 17 counts of indecent assault and 16 counts of harassment on women who were examined at Allegheny North Arthritis Center in Wexford and Jameson South in New Castle, Lawrence County.

She ordered a pre-sentencing report that includes a Mercy Behavioral Health examination before his sentencing May 24. She also ordered Tyma to have no contact with any of the victims.

When McDaniel announced her decision, victims who had testified against Tyma during the trial gave short cheer in the courtroom.

Afterward, Tyma's family embraced him. The rheumatologist lives in Franklin Park but has a Sewickley address. 

Tyma spent the morning testifying that he would never touch a patient's breast in the ways that the 17 women testified that he had. Instead, he said he used a stethoscope to perform heart examinations over patients' clothing as a part of routine physical exams.

McDaniel said the women's testimony showed Tyma did not have the stethoscope on them when he touched their breasts, as some of the victims testified. (They testified that the stethoscope was draped over the back of his neck.)

In his closing remarks, defense attorney Stanton Levenson argued that all charges against the doctor should be dropped because indecent assault is defined as touching that brings about sexual arousal or gratification.

He said prosecutors did not prove that happened.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Digiovanni asked Tyma if he was saying the 17 women were not telling the truth.

Tyma answered that he could not read into why the women testified as they did.

Levenson also questioned the victims' "perception and recollection" because many had depression, anxiety, panic attacks and sleep deprivation. He also noted that the victims had been prescribed various anti-depressants and anxiety medicines.

McDaniel countered that she thought Tyma picked on the weak and the vulnerable because no one would believe them.

"I think you chose these people because they did have (multiple illnesses and problems)," she said.

"Almost every one said she thought she would not be believed," said McDaniel. "All testified they knew something was wrong ... with your actions."

Testimony began last week with the . T