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    In the hospital waiting room, the distressed mid adult woman rests her head in her hands to think.

    When you seek medical care, you expect professionalism, privacy, and safety. Tragically, some patients experience a complete violation when they are sexually assaulted by nurses, doctors, or other healthcare providers.

    At Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, we represent people who have been sexually assaulted or abused in medical settings and who want accountability, not only from the individual who caused harm, but also from organizations that failed to protect victims and enabled abusers.

    Important Notice: We Are Seeking Information

    Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers is actively seeking information related to recently reported sexual assault allegations involving healthcare professionals in the Carolinas.

    News reports have described allegations involving:

    • Paul David Springman, a traveling nurse from Texas who was recently arrested in connection with an alleged sexual assault at a healthcare facility. He is known to have worked in hospitals in Greenville, South Carolina. We are investigating a sexual assault allegation against him from a female patient at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.
    • Brayan Alvarez Ortiz, a nurse formerly associated with UNC Rex Hospital in North Carolina, has been the subject of publicly reported allegations involving patient assault.

    If you were harmed, experienced inappropriate behavior, or have information related to either individual, even if you are unsure or the incident occurred some time ago, we encourage you to reach out. If you have experienced sexual assault in a healthcare setting, you are not alone. Support is available.

    If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you need confidential emotional support, the National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) is available 24/7 at 800-656-HOPE (4673). And if you are ready to explore your legal options and pursue accountability, our team is here to listen, explain your rights, and help you move forward at your pace. Just Call Joye at 888-324-3100. Speaking with our firm is confidential and does not require you to file a lawsuit or report to law enforcement.

    How Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers Helps Survivors of Sexual Assault

    At Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, we are guided by our four core values: compassion for victims, the bravery to confront powerful institutions, a commitment to continuous improvement in how we advocate, and a deep respect for the common good. Cases involving sexual assault in a healthcare setting demands more than just legal experience; they require sensitivity, discretion, and a survivor-centered approach. When you choose to work with our firm, you can expect:

    Personalized and Confidential Legal Support

    We listen to your story confidentially and without judgment. You decide what you’re comfortable sharing and when. Every survivor and every case is different. Some want privacy. Some want public accountability or a jury trial. We craft strategy with YOUR goals in mind. We explain the legal path, timing, possible outcomes, and your rights.

    Evidence Preservation and Thorough Investigation

    Critical evidence such as staffing and credentialing records, medical charts, security footage, and internal incident reports can be lost or destroyed over time. Our team acts quickly to preserve this information and build a strong foundation for your case. We conduct in-depth investigations into institutional practices, employment and training histories, supervision policies, and any prior complaints or warning signs. When necessary, we pursue public records through Freedom of Information Act requests and conduct depositions of key witnesses and experts to uncover the full truth.

    Compassionate Support for All Survivors

    We handle all communications with hospitals, health systems, risk management departments, insurers, and defense attorneys, allowing you to focus on healing and recovery. We advocate firmly on your behalf while remaining mindful of the emotional weight these cases carry. Sexual assault affects people of every gender, background, and identity. If you would feel more comfortable working with an attorney or advocate of a certain gender, or with someone who speaks your native language, we will do everything possible to accommodate your preferences. Our priority is ensuring you feel heard, respected, safe, and supported throughout the legal process.

    No Fee Unless We Win

    Every Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers client gets our No Fee Guarantee™. Since we handle sexual assault and other serious personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, you’ll never pay an attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. We also advance the costs necessary to investigate and litigate your case, because we believe survivors and are committed to giving your case the resources it deserves from start to finish.

    Why Sexual Assault in Healthcare Is Different

    Sexual assault in a healthcare setting is fundamentally different from many other types of assault. That’s because it occurs within a relationship built on trust, authority, and vulnerability. Patients seek medical care because they are injured, ill, or in need of help. In doing so, they are often required to place their bodies, their privacy, and their safety in the hands of healthcare professionals.

    During medical examinations and procedures, patients may be physically exposed in ways that would never be acceptable outside of a clinical environment. They are frequently separated from family members and placed in private rooms where only medical staff are present. In these moments, patients are expected to trust that the care being provided is appropriate, professional, and necessary.

    That trust can be exploited. Many survivors report hesitation to speak up because the person who harmed them was a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional—someone trained, licensed, and presumed to be acting in their best interest. Survivors may fear they will not be believed or worry that questioning a provider could affect their medical treatment, delay care, or label them as “difficult.” For some, the fear of retaliation or disruption of necessary medical care is enough to keep them silent.

    Abusers choose targets that they think won’t, or can’t, speak out against them. Don’t let them get away with it. Allow us to be your voice and your muscle.

    Vulnerability During Sedation, Anesthesia, and Recovery

    Healthcare sexual assault cases are further complicated by the fact that patients are often medicated, sedated, in pain, or otherwise incapacitated. Anesthesia, sedatives, and powerful pain medications can impair awareness, memory, and the ability to respond or report what is happening in the moment. As a result, survivors may not immediately understand what occurred, may recall events only in fragments, or may second-guess their own memories, especially when the person involved is a trusted professional.

    In many situations, survivors are not fully conscious at all. When an assault occurs while a patient is unconscious or semi-conscious, the trauma is compounded by confusion and delayed realization. This makes the abuse harder to detect in real time and more difficult to report immediately, even though the harm is just as real.

    The “Traveling Healthcare Worker” Problem

    Many hospitals and medical facilities rely on temporary or contract staff, including traveling nurses and clinicians employed through staffing agencies. While these professionals play a vital role in patient care, the system can break down when:

    1. A healthcare worker is reported, confronted, or quietly terminated at one facility.
    2. The individual then moves—sometimes quickly—to another hospital or clinic.
    3. Survivors at the new location have no way of knowing about previous issues.

    If institutions or staffing agencies fail to address red flags, the result can be repeated harm to patients. When facilities cut corners or ignore warning signs, survivors may have claims tied to negligent hiring, negligent retention, negligent supervision, or negligent credentialing, depending on the facts.

    Who Can Be Held Accountable in a Civil Sexual Assault Case?

    When sexual assault occurs in a healthcare setting, there are often two separate legal paths. Criminal investigations are handled by the state and focus on punishment and suspending or revoking the license to practice. A civil sexual assault case, by contrast, is brought by the survivor and focuses on accountability, institutional responsibility, and financial compensation for the harm suffered.

    In many healthcare assault cases, responsibility extends beyond the individual who committed the assault. Depending on the facts, potential defendants may include:

    • The individual who committed the assault, such as a doctor, nurse, technician, aide, or other healthcare worker
    • The hospital or health system where the assault occurred
    • A clinic, urgent care center, or physician practice responsible for patient safety and supervision
    • A surgery center where patients may be sedated or recovering under staff care
    • A nursing home or assisted living facility entrusted with the care and protection of vulnerable residents
    • A staffing or travel-nurse agency that hired, placed, or failed to properly vet a healthcare worker
    • A corporate owner or management entity responsible for policies, training, oversight, credentialing, and supervision

    Civil cases often examine whether these entities failed in their duties through negligent hiring, retention, supervision, or credentialing, particularly when prior complaints, red flags, or policy violations were ignored.

    Compensation You Might Recover

    Every case is different, but a civil sexual assault claim is intended to address the full impact of the harm, not just immediate medical expenses. Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include:

    • Medical costs related to the assault, follow-up care, and trauma-informed treatment
    • Therapy and counseling, including long-term mental health care
    • Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
    • Pain and suffering
    • Emotional distress and psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms
    • Loss of enjoyment of life, relationships, or sense of personal safety
    • Out-of-pocket expenses related to recovery, safety planning, or relocation

    In cases involving particularly egregious conduct or systemic failures, punitive damages may also be available to punish wrongdoing and deter similar behavior in the future.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Traveling Nurse Assault

    I wasn’t fully conscious when it happened, do I still have a case?

    Yes. The law recognizes that people are especially vulnerable under anesthesia, sedation, or heavy medication. Lack of consciousness does NOT mean you don’t have rights. Our team understands the medical context and can help explain how evidence and testimony work in these situations.

    What if the alleged attacker was a “traveling nurse” or contract worker?

    You may have claims against the facility where the assault occurred, the staffing agency that placed the worker, or both, especially if there were prior warning signs that were ignored.

    What if the facility says they investigated and found “nothing happened”?

    Internal investigations by hospitals are not the same as an independent legal investigation. We conduct our own review of records, policies, and evidence to determine what really happened.

    Can I remain anonymous while pursuing a case?

    In many situations, you can pursue legal action confidentially or through negotiations without a public trial. We discuss your comfort level and goals in every case.

    What to Do If You Suspect Sexual Assault in a Healthcare Setting

    If you believe you were sexually assaulted during medical care, you are not alone, and you have options. If you feel safe doing so, consider taking the following steps:

    1. Get to a safe place and contact someone you trust for support.
    2. Seek medical care as soon as possible and ask about options for documenting what happened, including forensic evidence collection.
    3. Write down what you remember, even if the details feel incomplete. Note the dates, times, locations, staff names, and sensations.
    4. Preserve records, including medical records, discharge paperwork, appointment summaries, and patient portal messages.  Medical providers can edit medical records, and it takes months and usually motions to obtain an audit trail to prove it.
    5. Report the incident to hospital administration or patient relations if you feel comfortable doing so.
    6. Speak with a lawyer before giving detailed statements to insurance companies, hospital risk management, or corporate investigators.

    If something felt wrong, it deserves to be taken seriously. You do not need proof, perfect memory, or certainty to reach out for help. Many survivors come to us unsure of exactly what happened, but with a strong sense that their trust was violated. That is enough to start a conversation.

    At Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, we offer confidential consultations where you can speak with an experienced attorney who understands the unique challenges of sexual assault in healthcare settings. We will listen, explain your options, and help you understand what accountability may look like, without pressure and at your pace.

    Whether you want answers, protection from further harm, or justice through the civil legal system, we are here to help. Contact Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free, confidential consultation.

    If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you need immediate emotional support, the National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) is available 24/7 at 800-656-HOPE (4673).

    You Don’t Have to Carry This Alone

    If you or a loved one was sexually assaulted or abused in a medical setting—whether during an exam, while hospitalized, or under sedation—Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers is here to help you understand your rights and pursue the accountability and compensation you deserve.

    Reach out for a confidential consultation today. We’ll listen, explain your options, and help you take the next step at your pace.

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    Attorney Melissa Mosier at her desk in the Columbia office