OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A nurse at a Kissimmee hospital was arrested after being accused of battering a patient last month, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
In an affidavit, deputies said they responded to AdventHealth Celebration back on March 16 after receiving a report from the victim, who claimed that the incident happened after she underwent a medical procedure.
At the time, she was conscious but unable to move or even open her eyes due to the effects of anesthesia, the affidavit notes.
“(The victim) stated that a male nurse, later identified as Carlos Herrera, who had transported her into the room, called her loudly in an apparent attempt to elicit a response,” the affidavit reads. “She advised that although she heard her name being called, she was unable to respond.”
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But after receiving no response, Herrera moved closer and put his arm through the neck opening of her hospital gown to grab her breast, squeezing it around three times, the victim claimed.
Per investigators, she immediately opened her eyes upon feeling the contact, at which pointed Herrera allegedly said, “Oh, hey, do you normally sleep on your side? I was just trying to move you to lie flat.”
After Herrera left the room, the victim reported what happened, ultimately leading to Herrera’s arrest later that month, records show.
Now, Herrera faces charges of abusing a disabled adult without great bodily harm and making a lewd/lascivious act.
News 6 reached out to AdventHealth for comment and received the following response:
“Patient safety is our highest priority. We take concerns like this seriously. In accordance with our policy, we immediately placed the team member on leave March 16th after the allegation was made, and he remains on leave.”
AdventHealth