Winona doctor accused of patient misbehavior

WINONA, Minn. — A Winona Health obstetrician, who was hired in November, has been accused of sexual harassment of women patients at his previous job in the Minneapolis suburb of Edina. Juan Carlos Angelats, age 53, has denied the accusations. The legal action was filed in October — a month before Angelats was hired by Winona Health. It was not immediately clear whether Winona Health was aware of the accusations from Edina. The allegations are specific:

> A day after delivering twins in 2021, the complainant said, Angelats sat “very closely” to her and massaged and squeezed a shoulder and commended that her figure looked good. The woman later told investigators she felt uncomfortable about the interaction.

> In a follow-up visit when her scheduled provider was unavailable, she said, Angelats massaged and squeezed a shoulder without permission and commented again that her figure looked good, particularly after birthing twins. It was a sexualization of her appearance, she said.

> In a later exam, while the she was robed in a flimsy examination gown whose front was open, the woman saidM Angelats hugged her without permission and had his clothes and body against her bare chest. She said she felt humiliated by and left without scheduling a follow-up he recommended for imaging, She said she drove off in tears.

The woman said she went online and found several women who claimed similar experiences. She went to the state Human Rights Department. Investigators concluded there was probable cause for action. Investigators also heard a report of inappropriate behavior with a female employee at the Diamond Women’s Center in Edina. An internal investigation at the clinic, however, found no issue. Angelats had practiced 20 years at the clinic and was a part-owner.