Macon hospital nurse charged with sexual assualt of patient
A 33-year-old woman claims that a former nurse at The Medical Center of Central Georgia sexually assaulted her. The former nurse, James Melvin Purvis, was arrested on March 30 and indicted this week for sexual assault.
The Macon Telegraph has the story.
The victim was a patient at the hospital after she suffered injuries in a car accident. Purvis, 56, had previously cared for the victim; however, on the day of the assault, he was not scheduled to be her nurse. The victim stated that on that day Purvis came to see her and they started talking. As they conversed, Purvis allegedly rubbed her shoulder and fondled her. When the victim attempted to stop Purvis, he kissed her on the lips.
Police report that Purvis admitted to visiting the woman, rubbing her shoulders, and kissing her. Purvis faces a possible 10 to 20 years in prison if he is convicted of the sexual assault. According to the hospital, Purvis is no longer an employee, but it is unknown if the hospital fired him.
This criminal prosecution may also lead to a civil suit against the nurse and the hospital. A good crime victim lawyer can help a sex crime victim pursue her attacker in civil court and, in some cases, recover significant damages. The hospital's liability in a case like this will depend on its knowledge of this nurse's prior history, and whether this assault was foreseeable.
Pate & Brody is an accomplished Georgia law firm with offices in Atlanta, Macon and Madison. Our lawyers are dedicated to pursuing justice for crime victims, people who have been defrauded by deceptive business practices, or injured through the fault of others. Our lawyers have been recognized on the list of Georgia's "Super Lawyers", and included among Georgia's "Legal Elite" by Georgia Trend Magazine.
