Lawsuit: Burn Victim Sexually Assaulted By Male Nurse

On Thursday, a woman filed a lawsuit against Stroger Hospital of Cook County, claiming that she was sexually assaulted while a patient in the hospital’s burn unit, CBS News reports.

According to the suit, a male nurse that was assigned to the woman repeatedly made non-consensual sexual contact with her, culminating in forced intercourse.

In her suit, the woman recounts several instances of inappropriate sexual conduct from the nurse. One incident involved a stethoscope. According to the patient, it “appeared to her that [the nurse] was using the stethoscope to touch her breasts for his own pleasure.”

In another instance, the nurse is accused of taking liberties while giving the patient a sponge bath. According to the suit, the nurse began groping the woman while washing her. When she objected, the nurse allegedly told her “it was his job.”

Finally, the suit claims that at one point the nurse turned off the lights and pulled the curtain around the patients bed. He then allegedly climbed on top of the woman. According to the suit, the patient asked the nurse to use a condom. He got one, then sexually assaulted her, the patient alleges. The woman claims that she did not ask him to stop because she was afraid he would hurt her.

The suit claims negligence on the part of the hospital and a violation of the Gender Violence Act. The Act allows anyone who has been subjected to gender-related violence to bring a civil suit against the perpetrator.

“Gender-related violence” encompasses not only violence but also any “physical invasion of a sexual nature under coercive conditions.” The woman is probably suing the hospital under respondent superior, a doctrine that makes an employer liable for the wrongdoings of its employee if they were committed within the scope of employment.

The patient’s lawsuit is seeking $ 50,000 per count in punitive damages from Stroger Hospital for the sexual assault claims.

Related Resources:


Find a Chicago Personal Injury Attorney (FindLaw)
Sexual Assault Alleged at Stroger Hospital (Chicago Sun-Times)
Personal Injury Law: The Basics (FindLaw)
Stages of a Personal Injury Case (FindLaw)


 


The Chicago Personal Injury Law Blog

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