Hialeah Hospital nursing assistant accused of forcing oral sex on a Baker Act patient
A Hollywood certified nursing assistant has been disciplined by the state after a Hialeah Hospital patient accused him of forcing oral sex and unwanted genital touching.
That’s in the emergency restriction order (ERO) for Alberto Vergani-Cortez, 50, which came down Thursday. The ERO doesn’t mention Vergani-Cortez faces one count of sexual battery after his May 25 arrest by Hialeah police. He posted $10,000 bond the next day and has pleaded not guilty.
“(Hialeah police) also interviewed Mr. Vergani Cortez,” the ERO reads. “Mr. Vergani Cortex confirmed the encounter had occurred but maintained that (the patient) fully consented to receiving oral sex.”
Consent was given, the patient said, only “because Mr. Vergani Cortez threatened to extend his hospitalization if he did not comply.”
And that’s something the patient wanted to avoid. The ERO said he attempted to kill himself with an intentional overdose on prescription drugs. Showing the potential for serious self-harm opened the door for him to be put in Hialeah Hospital for involuntary examination under the Baker Act. He was under 24-hour supervision.
Here’s what the ERO says happened on May 24:
Vergani-Cortez slapped the patient on the behind and asked him when he last masturbated. The patient asked if he could go into the restroom to indulge in self-service, but Vergani-Cortez convinced him to do it in bed. Vergani-Cortez left the room, but returned before the patient had finished.
After moving the patient call button away from the patient, Vergani-Cortez began touching the patient’s testicles. The surprised patient asked Vergani-Cortez to stop as the nursing assistant progressed to grabbing the patient’s penis.
“Mr. Vergani-Cortez performed oral sex on (the patient) for approximately two to three minutes” and stopped after the patient asked him to do so.
The patient told another nursing assistant about the oral sex and Hialeah Hospital staff called Hialeah police.
Vergani-Cortez is prohibited “from treating and interacting with male patients.”
This story was originally published August 16, 2020 at 11:06 AM.
