Ex-Husband, Associate Ordered to Pay $6 Million for Abusive Sex Surgery

A gynecologist accused of deliberately sewing shut his wife’s vagina to punish her for having an affair and his associate have been ordered to pay the woman $6 million.

The former Debbie Crandall-Millar, 35, on Thursday was awarded $1 million for pain and suffering and $5 million in punitive damages by an 11-woman, one-man jury after four days of deliberations. She has since remarried and lives in Fresno.

Dr. Glenn C. Millar, 65, of San Luis Obispo declined comment on the verdict. Millar and Dr. Robert W. Tetatreau, who assisted in the 1984 operation, both testified during the civil trial that any mistakes they made were not intentional.

Crandall-Millar testified that her then-husband told her after the surgery, “I’ve fixed it so you’ll never screw around on me again.” Her attorney, David Sabih of Monterey, said his client has undergone reconstructive surgery. “She can have sex, but it hurts her a lot,” he said.

Having Marital Problems

Crandall-Millar told the jury that she and her former husband were having marital problems when she entered the Sierra Vista Medical Center for a hysterectomy and that he suspected her of seeing another man. In fact, Sabih said, Crandall-Millar was having an affair at the time and that may have limited the jury award.

The jury found Millar 60% responsible and Tetatreau 40% responsible for the incident. The medical center was also ruled negligent but not responsible for the injury. Millar was ordered to pay the punitive damages and 60% of the injury award.

Millar is still practicing medicine, but a state review board suspended Tetatreau’s medical license pending a review and he is now practicing in Colorado, Sabih said. He said no criminal charges were pressed.