Nine women have accused Dr. Gregory Yim, a well-known Oʻahu pediatric neurologist, of performing breast exams they say were medically unnecessary and violated their trust, according to two pending lawsuits. One patient described undergoing roughly 50 such exams over six and a half years. Court records say Yim never explained why the exams were needed or referred patients to a specialist — and in at least one case, allegedly performed them without gloves or proper draping.

The Hawaiʻi Medical Board has received four requests to investigate Yim in recent years. Every one was closed without an investigation. Three years after the allegations first became public, Yim's medical license remains valid and in good standing, and as recently as two months ago, a receptionist at his former practice said he was still seeing patients.

"The state medical board should investigate," said Emily Anderson, a professor at Loyola University Chicago's Stritch School of Medicine who studies physician misconduct.

Other states don't wait for a criminal conviction to act. Nevada's medical board must investigate lawsuits against doctors that end in a settlement or judgment. Ohio opens a review the moment a doctor discloses being sued. Hawaiʻi has no such trigger — and its own board won't say why it hasn't looked into a case with four separate complaints and two active lawsuits.

Yim has denied the allegations in court and has not been charged with a crime. But patients shouldn't have to rely on a lawsuit alone to get a state licensing board to ask questions.

Sign the petition demanding the Hawaiʻi Medical Board formally investigate the allegations against Dr. Gregory Yim — before another patient walks into his office.