A former gastroenterologist will stand trial for fondling patients as they woke up from sedation.
Kevin Lang waived his right to a preliminary hearing this morning in Wood County circuit court. He stood mute during his arraignment so a judge entered not guilty pleas on five felony sexual assault charges. A pre-trial conference is set for May 27th.
Lang remains free on a $25,000 cash bond.
According to court documents, Lang put his penis in the hands of patients as they were under anesthesia. He also forced one woman to touch herself inappropriately.
The state’s Medical Examining Board found that Lang had inappropriate sexual contact with a woman on March 13, 2009. Lang surrendered his medical license last July before the board could hold a hearing to revoke it.
Lang, who was a doctor at Marshfield Clinic, gave up his hospital privileges when officials confronted him with the accusation. During treatment he admitted to inappropriately touching 11 other patients between 2003 and 2007.
Marshfield Clinic changed its procedures following the accusations against Lang. It now requires three people to be in the room with a patient as they come out of sedation.
Matt Lehman-WSAU