A 73-year-old woman died after allegedly being sexually assaulted by a male, who was employed as a nurse at a hospital facility. Her family sued the facility for negligence, based on insufficient security.
The incident reportedly occurred in October 2024 while the woman was receiving treatment, and the nurse involved, identified in multiple sources as Wilfredo Figueroa-Berrios, is currently facing criminal charges that include rape, aggravated sexual battery, and tampering with evidence.
Court records indicate that bond was denied for the accused, who has been linked to a broader pattern of alleged sexual abuse, both at Sinai-Grace Hospital and elsewhere, with lawsuits highlighting repeated misconduct and failures by hospital supervisors to adequately respond to reported concerns about his behavior.
Since the initial lawsuit regarding the 73-year-old patient's death, several women, including hospital staff and former patients, have joined legal actions and public testimony, alleging they endured similar assaults by Figueroa-Berrios during their medical care.
Attorneys representing the survivors state that some complaints were not managed appropriately within the hospital or reported to police, and at least one whistleblower who attempted to notify management was reportedly fired afterward. Several lawsuits now contain allegations that the hospital and its parent company, Tenet Healthcare, should be held responsible for personal abusive incidents and for systemic negligence and unsafe working conditions for both patients and staff.
Defense counsel for Figueroa-Berrios has publicly attempted to challenge the credibility of the accusers.
Source: https://www.wtok.com/2025/08/03/73-year-old-woman-dies-after-being-sexually-assaulted-by-male-nurse-hospital-lawsuit-says/
Commentary
The risk of sexual assault against patients in healthcare environments highlights the critical importance of robust hiring processes and vigilant oversight of staff behavior.
Healthcare employers face a heightened duty to protect those in their care, particularly the most vulnerable - the elderly, people with disabilities, or patients who are otherwise incapacitated - those least able to advocate for themselves.
One of the most effective deterrents to staff-initiated abuse lies in comprehensive pre-employment screening, especially thorough background and reference checks. Employers should invest in exhaustive criminal records searches across state and federal databases, ensuring that checks extend beyond minimum statutory requirements to consider disqualifying offenses that may have been prosecuted under a variety of jurisdictions or aliases.
Reference checking, meanwhile, is not simply a formality, but is also a crucial investigative tool. It should include direct outreach to former supervisors and colleagues and should probe specifically for any documented concerns regarding inappropriate behavior, managing of vulnerable populations, or unexplained employment gaps.
Employers must be mindful of the possibility that past incidents may not always result in criminal prosecution or may be omitted from reference letters, so detailed, open-ended interview questions and follow-ups are essential to elicit candid responses.
Furthermore, applicants should be required to sign release forms that permit the sharing of sensitive personnel information from previous employers, reducing the likelihood of missed red flags because of restrictive privacy policies.
Ongoing vigilance is also key, which means background re-checks at regular intervals, mandatory reporting of suspicious incidents, and an organizational climate that supports and protects whistleblowers who raise concerns.
Rigorous criminal screenings and in-depth reference checks during the hiring process can help healthcare employers establish a critical line of defense against sexual abuse.
