Legal Analysis By Attorneys
Breaking Legal News
On Tuesday, a Franklin County ambulance driver was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting multiple patients while they were being transported to Weems Memorial Hospital. 44-year-old Robert E. Lee Major has been charged with sexual assault and lewd and lascivious molestation of an elderly disabled person.
Major works as an emergency medical services professional for Franklin County at Weems Memorial Hospital. Multiple patients have accused Major of inappropriate touching during ambulance transportation.
The first victim came forward with allegations that Major had put his hand inside of her underwear and that he forced her to touch his genitals during an ambulance ride. Others have since come forward with their own allegations against Major. This investigation remains ongoing.
The Franklin County Sherriff's Office has encouraged anyone else who has experienced abuse by Major to contact Lt. James Hamm or Lt. Ronnie Jones at 850-670-8500.
Attorney contributor Michael Haggard represents survivors of sexual abuse, helping them find justice and financial compensation through lawsuits. Michael has some thoughts to share regarding the legal options available to those who have been sexually assaulted by healthcare workers:
Healthcare is a sensitive field and it's crucial that the people who work in this field are trustworthy. Unfortunately, healthcare has a high potential for abuse because of the fact that employees are often working with vulnerable patients. When a healthcare worker sexually abuses patients, it's important both to that worker accountable and to determine if their employer is partially responsible for failing to stop or prevent the abuse due to negligence.
For example, did the hospital that employed the abuser fail to run a background check before hiring the abuser, which would have revealed a history of sexual misconduct? This would likely constitute negligence and result in liability for the hospital. In this case and others involving negligence, victims of sexual abuse may have grounds for a lawsuit against the healthcare facility that employed the perpetrator.
Establishing negligence is a complicated legal process which requires assistance from an experienced sexual abuse victims lawyer. If you or someone you love has been abused, you can learn more about your family's legal options by speaking with a lawyer in a free consultation.
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