LYNCHBURG, Va. – A statement has been released on behalf of a gynecologist in Lynchburg after accusations of sexual misconduct started to surface earlier this month.
As we’ve previously reported, Dr. Lewis Dabney resigned from Lynchburg Gynecology on Thursday, Sept. 14 after several women came forward with claims of harassment and sexual assault.
Later that same week, the office announced that it was working to cut all ties with Dabney, including financial ones.
On Monday, 10 News received a video statement read by Diane Matthews Walker, a woman who claims to have been a patient of Dabney for two decades prior to his resignation. Walker said Dabney was an OBYGYN for her two daughters and praised the professionalism and expertise with which he carried himself.
Walker said that she also served on several boards with Dabney and worked alongside him in many volunteer hands-on activities.
“Over the past few weeks, Dr. Lewis Dabney has been the subject of many false and defamatory accusations on social media, which have prompted equally misleading news stories about him,” the statement reads. “As a result, Dr. Dabney and his family have also had insults, verbal attacks, and other threats leveled against them.”
“Although no criminal charges or civil claims have been filed against Dr. Dabney, he felt compelled to respond to some of the misstatements and clear the air about his medical practice.”
Walker continues to read the statement, highlighting Dabney’s long career as a practicing physician. Walker claimed that throughout his career with more than 100,000 patient appointments and interactions, the Virginia Board of Medicine or the Department of Health Professions has never found any instances of misconduct. She goes on to state that Dabney has never been faced with a malpractice case or criminal charge.
In the statement’s concluding paragraphs, Walker recognized Dabney as a “well-respected, upstanding member of the community.”
“As a former United States Marine Corps officer, whose father and grandfather both were well-decorated combat veterans, Dr. Dabney’s key values after family and faith are honor, courage and commitment,” the statement reads. “This has been shown through his actions, including his military service, his decades in civic and charitable organizations serving the Lynchburg community, and his unwavering dedication to his many patients.”
You can read the full statement below:
Over the past few weeks, Dr. Lewis Dabney has been the subject of many false and defamatory accusations on social media, which have prompted equally misleading news stories about him. As a result, Dr. Dabney and his family have also had insults, verbal attacks, and other threats leveled against them. Although no criminal charges or civil claims have been filed against Dr. Dabney, he felt compelled to respond to some of the misstatements and clear the air about his medical practice.
First, Dr. Dabney has been a practicing physician for 22 years serving the Central Virginia community as a gynecologist. During his long career, Dr. Dabney has had over 100,000 patient appointments and interactions and never had a finding of any misconduct by the Virginia Board of Medicine or the Virginia Department of Health Professions. Nor has any malpractice case or criminal charge ever been filed against him.
Second, for every medical procedure that Dr. Dabney has ever performed – whether at Lynchburg Gynecology or any prior practice – there has been a female nurse present and participating the entire time.
Third, Dr. Dabney is board certified in gynecology and follows closely the treatment guidelines published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Nothing he has done with any of his patients is outside of those guidelines or any other standards of care for such medical professionals. Indeed, the procedures he performs with his patients, which he learned in residency at the University of Virginia Medical School, are the same as those being taught to UVA’s current OB/GYN resident doctors today.
Finally, Dr. Dabney has been a well-respected, upstanding member of this community for more than 20 years. As a former United States Marine Corps officer, whose father and grandfather both were well-decorated combat veterans, Dr. Dabney’s key values after family and faith are honor, courage and commitment. This has been shown through his actions, including his military service, his decades in civic and charitable organizations serving the Lynchburg community, and his unwavering dedication to his many patients.
Dr. Dabney is grateful for the outpouring of support from the community – including many former patients and colleagues – and looks forward to swiftly clearing his name from any kind of criminal allegation.
Statement released on behalf of Dr. Lewis Dabney