Massachusetts General Hospital physician's assistant arrested for alleged indecent assault on patient, prosecutors say

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

2 2 minutes read

A former physician assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital was arraigned Monday for alleged indecent assault on a patient, according to Suffolk District Attorney Kevin R. Hayden's office.

On April 12, a woman reported to police that Leonardo Hernandez, 29, of Jamaica Plain, had assaulted her at the Mass General dermatology unit several weeks earlier, prosecutors said.

An MGH spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday that Hernandez had been fired and that the hospital had “fully cooperated with law enforcement's investigation.”

“Ensuring patients receive high-quality, reliable care in a safe health care environment is our first priority,” the statement read in part. “We are deeply troubled by these allegations and thank the patient for coming forward to ensure this individual’s alleged conduct was exposed.” »

Hospital officials also said authorities helped the patient contact law enforcement.

The woman said Hernandez knocked on the door and entered after her doctor left the exam room and asked if she wanted a skin exam because of a possible foot condition, prosecutors said . The woman assumed her doctor had ordered the test.

Hernandez gave the woman a hospital gown and left the room before quickly returning and remaining in the room while she took off her jeans, prosecutors said. Hernandez then began his mock examination, running his fingertips over the woman's legs and repeatedly asking to see her chest, according to prosecutors.

The woman refused, and Hernandez allegedly tried to pull down her hospital gown before leaving the room, prosecutors said.

The next day, the woman asked her doctor if she had ordered follow-up tests and the doctor said no, prosecutors said. Such tests were not part of Hernandez's job description, the doctor added.

“I commend this victim for speaking out when she determined that this situation was simply not right,” Hayden said in a statement. “All patients have the right to safe and ethical treatment during their medical appointments. Anyone endangering the safety of a patient or abusing and exceeding their professional responsibilities will be held accountable.

Hernandez was arraigned Monday in Boston Municipal Court on charges of indecent assault and battery and pleaded not guilty, records show. He was released on personal recognizance with orders to stay away from the woman and Mass. General, according to court documents.

His attorney did not return a call seeking comment and an email to Hernandez was not immediately returned.

Travis Andersen can be contacted at [email protected]. Cathy Ching can be contacted at [email protected]. Am here @bycathyching.