HCA Healthcare, a publicly-traded corporation headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the nation’s largest for-profit hospital systems, operating over 180 hospitals and approximately 2,000 sites of care across 20 states and the United Kingdom. In recent years, the organization has faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct by healthcare professionals within its facilities, prompting serious concerns about patient safety and institutional accountability.
Allegations and Legal Actions
Several patients have reported incidents of sexual assault occurring in various HCA hospitals across the United States. For instance, in June 2024, a patient care technician at HCA Florida Westside Hospital in Plantation, Florida, was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a 70-year-old patient. The technician, identified as Emerson Jean, faced charges including sexual battery of a helpless person, false imprisonment, and battery upon a person 65 years of age or older. The victim alleged that Jean forcibly penetrated her while she was incapacitated in her hospital bed, Law & Crime reported.
In another case, a surgeon affiliated with HCA Florida Healthcare in Pensacola was charged with raping a woman in Walton County, Florida, in February 2024. The surgeon, Dr. Francis Herrbold, was accused of sexually assaulting a woman aboard a boat after she had fallen asleep. Following the allegations, Dr. Herrbold was suspended from his position pending the outcome of the investigation, ABC affiliate WEAR News 3 reported.
Additionally, in November 2024, a jury awarded $25 million in damages to a woman who was sexually assaulted by a male nurse at HCA Florida Citrus Hospital. The nurse, Hiram Bonilla, administered excessive pain medication to the patient, rendering her incapacitated, and proceeded to assault her multiple times over a four-hour period. The hospital faced criticism for delaying the reporting of the assault to law enforcement, which contributed to the substantial jury award, Yahoo News and CBS News reported.
Institutional Response
In response to these incidents, HCA Healthcare has stated its commitment to patient safety and cooperation with law enforcement investigations. Following the arrest of the patient care technician in Plantation, HCA Florida Westside Hospital issued a statement emphasizing that such behavior is intolerable and that the employee had been suspended pending the investigation’s outcome.
Similarly, after the allegations against Dr. Herrbold, HCA Florida Healthcare suspended his employment and reiterated its dedication to maintaining a safe environment for patients.
Support for Survivors
For individuals affected by these incidents, it is crucial to seek support and understand their rights. Organizations such as the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) offer resources and assistance to survivors of sexual assault. Legal avenues are also available for those seeking justice and accountability, including filing civil lawsuits against perpetrators and, in some cases, the institutions that employed them.