But Stromsten stepped forward Wednesday with a very different description of Lozano. She says he was a "likeable young man" who was easy-going, somewhat shy, and not at all violent.

Stromsten, who first met Lozano when he was a patient at McLean Hospital in 1987, said Lozano was "totally competent" and that he had no history of psychiatric problems before seeing Bean-Bayog.

Stromsten said she decided to come forward because she was angry about Bean-Bayog's mischaracterizations, untrue statements and attacks on Paul Lozano's character."

Dr. Thomas W. Watkins, Lozano's pediatrician between 1970 and 1979, says he saw no evidence of abuse of any sort in the Lozano children. He emphasizes the fact that the Lozanos had gone 25 miles out of their way to bring their children to a specialist.

"They were very nice, friendly people," says Watkins. "I remember them because there were very few established minorities here at the time."

In the face of such conflicting reports, more than one authority has decided to wait for the court's decision on the matter.

In an emergency meeting Monday, the State Board of Registration in Medicine decided not to suspend Bean-Bayog, pending the court verdict.

And though the Medical School has placed Bean-Bayog on an administrative leave of absence and cancelled her referrals, it too will wait for the results of the court's investigation before taking any conclusive action.