Lawsuits mount over sexual abuse allegations at Leavenworth VA Medical Center

Federal lawsuits are mounting over the alleged sexually inappropriate actions of a former employee at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Leavenworth.

The latest suit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., on behalf of an Iraq War veteran identified as John Doe P.M.

It is at least the sixth lawsuit filed this year alleging that former physician assistant Mark E. Wisner subjected patients to sexually inappropriate touching and comments.

According to Tuesday’s suit, Wisner allegedly conducted “numerous” genital examinations in which the veteran’s genitals were fondled. He also made inappropriate comments about the man’s penis and suggested that he would withhold pain medication if the man did not submit to the examinations, according to the suit.

The allegations mirror those in the previously filed lawsuits.

Wisner also is being prosecuted on criminal charges filed in Leavenworth County District Court.

Officials with the VA said that when reports of possibly inappropriate behavior were raised, they removed Wisner from patient care duties and started an investigation.

Before the investigation was completed, Wisner surrendered his medical license to the Kansas Board of Healing Arts and left the VA, officials said.

The results of the VA investigation were turned over to Leavenworth County authorities and criminal charges were filed.

This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 10:24 AM with the headline "Lawsuits mount over sexual abuse allegations at Leavenworth VA Medical Center."