Each state has its own set of statutes and regulations on licensing doctors, accommodating patients who wish to file complaints, and releasing information about physicians who have been subject to discipline and legal action. On this page, we’re sharing the key findings regarding Utah, which we will continue to update as the series progresses.
Key fact: State law doesn’t prohibit registered sex offenders from having doctor licenses. Utah in 2016 re-licensed a doctor who is a registered sex offender, having been convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor in 2013.
“He was one of the smartest doctors I have ever known. He knew he was innocent, and he and I spent hundreds of hours together. He was in constant turmoil over the whole thing.”
–Kenneth Lyon, attorney for Dr. Raymond L. Bedell -- who died in 2014 amid an appeal over a 2007 sexual battery conviction – as quoted by the Herald Journal of Logan, Utah. A former patient accused Bedell of groping her in 2003. Bedell was allowed to continue practicing, so long as he had a chaperone with female patients and they were properly gowned. In 2010 an administrative law judge suspended his license, but a few months later, he was allowed to practice under restrictions. Those were lifted in 2012. Bedell told the Herald Journal in 2008: “I’ll never be able to undo this ... my career is destroyed.”
In August 2007, the fertility specialist pleaded no contest to eight misdemeanor charges of sexual battery for “intentionally touching the genitals of other people, patients and staff” between 2002 and 2005, “knowing or having should [have] known that the conduct would likely cause affront or alarm to the persons touched.”
According to news reports, he originally faced 21 felony counts of sexual abuse after being accused of performing lewd acts or performing lewd acts in the presence of patients or staff.
Following Andrew’s plea, the board in September 2007 stayed revocation of his license and ordered him to undergo a psychological evaluation. Then in October 2007, it issued an order allowing him to return to practice if he took a sexual boundaries course, used a chaperone and met other conditions.
In 2009, with his criminal probation completed, he was allowed to return to the practice of infertility medicine under new conditions set by the board.
In 2012, the board lifted probation. Andrew, who still is actively licensed, has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Click here to find your state!