On March 4, 2021, the Florida Department of Health issued an Order of Emergency Restriction of Hiram Antonio Bonilla’s license to work as a registered nurse following disturbing allegations that he sexual assault a female hospital patient. Bonilla admitted to acts of sexual misconduct with a female patient, which led to his arrest in January 2021. Hiram Bonilla has been a Registered Nurse in Florida since 2002.
The alleged sexual misconduct occurred while Bonilla worked as a nurse at Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness, Florida, located at 502 W Highland Blvd, Inverness, FL 34452. According to the Florida Department of Health, on January 5, 2021, Mr. Bonilla was assigned to care for a 67-year-old woman at Citrus Memorial Hospital. The victim was hospitalized for emergency care due to increased leg swelling and severe abdominal pain. During his shift, Bonilla reportedly entered the victim’s hospital room on several occasions and engaged in sexual activity with her while she was heavily medicated.
According to the Emergency Order and Arrest Affidavit filed on January 11, 2021, Hiram Bonilla began engaging with the victim with basic small talk while examining her, which eventually turned sexual. The victim claims that Bonilla told her that he bet she is good at performing oral sex. Throughout her entire interaction with Bonilla, he would often enter her room and exit her room, performing sexual acts on her according to the Order. He would notify the victim of the medical treatment he was providing to her, but then he would transition to talking with her about sexual acts, which he would later perform on her.
The victim recalled at one point that, the suspect entered her room, grabbed her hand, and used her hand to rub his penis over his pants. Bonilla began to fondle himself and groped the victim on her vagina with her legs closed over her clothing, according to law enforcement records. The alleged victim further advised that she recalls Bonilla entering her room to place a monitor on her chest. After undressing the victim, Bonilla informed her that she had “nice breasts” and asked her if he could suck on them, which he did.
Furthermore, while sucking on the victim’s breasts, Bonilla allegedly rubbed the victim’s vagina over her leggings several times. At one point, Bonilla allegedly said to the victim that he wanted to perform oral sex on her and that he wanted it reciprocated. The victim indicated Bonilla exposed his penis to her and asked her to “suck it .” Feeling obligated that she had to, she began to perform oral sex on Bonilla.
The alleged victim stated that she was administered morphine by Bonilla’s request several times throughout her stay, making her groggy and unable to move or call for help. She filed a report the next day, and Bonilla was arrested and charged with three counts of lewd and lascivious battery against an elderly person in Citrus County on January 11, 2021.
According to the arrest affidavit, Bonilla admitted to inserting his penis in the victim’s mouth several times, sucking on her breasts, and covering the windows to conceal his acts.
According to the Order, by his own admission, Bonilla willfully abused his position as a nurse to sexually violate a vulnerable, elderly patient who trusted him with her health. Mr. Bonilla is not able to meet the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing nursing practices required of a nurse. The misconduct is a blatant violation of his patients, and he poses a danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the patient’s under his care.
It is rarely pleasant going to a doctor or seeing a nurse, but when we do, we should be able to feel confident they’ll help us to feel better, not violate us. We seek out seasoned medical professionals who possess a good bedside manner, compassion and empathy. We believe the doctors and nurses at the office are carefully vetted, trustworthy and safe. It is unacceptable for any healthcare professional, including doctors or nurses, to touch a patient in any sexual manner or practice any sexual misconduct while on the job.
Horowitz Law has filed numerous sexual misconduct claims against medical professionals on behalf of patients who were inappropriately touched in their care. Under no circumstances is a doctor or nurse permitted to have sexual contact with a patient. If you have been a victim of sexual assault or sexual battery at a medical office or facility, or if you know someone who has, please contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at [email protected] for a free consultation.