A lawsuit has been filed against an American university for subjecting its students to “vaginal probes.”

Two medical students at university in Florida have filed a lawsuit against the institution after they were subjected to weekly vaginal probes.

Female students at Valencia College were told they would be penalised if they did not submit to a trans-vaginal ultrasound given by a fellow student as part of their ‘practical’ lessons. A trans-vaginal ultrasound is a probe used to scan a woman’s pelvic cavity.

Now, two unidentified plaintiffs — known as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 — have filed a federal suit.

Two young women are suing their college for forcing them to submit to trans vaginal ultrasounds. Image: iStock.

The young women claim that not only were forced to submit against their will but Valencia College staff retaliated against students who complained. According to local media service, the Orlando Sentinel, the suit claims the chair of the college’s Sonography Program told the students “they could find another school if they did not wish to be probed.”

Image: lawsuit.

The plaintiffs will also allege the teacher administering the probes, Barbara Ball, made suggestive comments while the students were being tested. Ball allegedly told one of the plaintiffs that she was “sexy” and could have been an escort.

Teacher Barbara Ball is being sued in the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, students were required to undress in a bathroom, drape themselves in towels and walk past students and faculty on their way to a sonogram station.

“A student would place a condom over the probe and then apply generous amounts of lubrication to the probe. In some cases, the student would have to sexually ‘stimulate’ plaintiffs in order to facilitate inserting the probe into Plaintiffs’ vaginas,” the lawsuit states.

“Plaintiffs experienced discomfort and embarrassment each time they had to endure this forced probing of their sexual organs.”

Image: lawsuit.

Originally the plaintiffs were told that the probes were not a required part of the course but this was later retracted as Ball told the girls they would be penalised if they didn’t submit. This was confirmed after the students complained and allegedly had their grades reduced, were threatened to be blacklisted from local institutions, and eventually, were forced to resign from the program.

The probes were conducted on students weekly, despite the availability of practice mannequins. Female students were particularly discomforted by a male class mate who conducted probes.

Valencia College in Orlando Florida is a state school – and it is being sued in a federal US court. Image: Facebook.

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Chris Dillingham, told CNN, “I filed the complaint in federal court because we are dealing with the government: Valencia State College. This is a constitutional federal rights claim. The vaginal probes and my client’s right to refuse them without retribution; their First and Fourth Amendments were violated.”

The Orlando Sentinel says the practice known as peer physical examination (PPE) is quite common — but more regulation is required.

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