Patient Says Male Nurse Assaulted Her

CHICAGO (CN) - A male nurse at Jackson Parked Hospital assaulted a patient "while she was extremely drowsy and unable to escape," kissing her breasts and penetrating her vagina, she claims in court.

Dahniella Watkins sued Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center in Cook County Court. The hospital and the Jackson Park Hospital Foundation are the only defendants.

Watkins was hospitalized in acute care from Feb. 15 to 18, 2011, according to her complaint.

The complaint states: "On Feb. 16, 2011 at Jackson Park Hospital, a male nurse fondled Dahniella Watkins' breasts while adjusting her electrodes, kissed her breasts, kissed her on the mouth, penetrated Dahniella Watkins' vagina with his fingers while changing her foley catheter, put Dahniella Watkins' hand towards his genitalia, asked Dahniella Watkins' for her cellular telephone number, and told Dahniella Watkins that he would see her again tomorrow."

Watkins says in the complaint that all this happened "while she was extremely drowsy and unable to escape."

She accuses the hospital of assault, battery, negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress, specifically, of "one or more of the following careless and negligent acts or omissions: (a) sexually abusing Dahniella Watkins; (b) hiring incompetent personnel; (c) allowing an agent and employee to abuse his position of authority over Dahniella Watkins; (d) failing to properly control and supervise its staff so as to prevent injury to Dahniella Watkins; and (e) [that it] was otherwise careless and negligent."

She is represented by Jacqueline Brody, with Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz.

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