A former aide at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has been accused of sexually assaulting two patients while they were undergoing medical procedures. One victim was assaulted while she was sedated. Guillermo Fernando Diaz has not yet been charged criminally.
But it’s not the first time he’s been accused of sexual assault. The accusations of abuse and interviews by police go back at least 14 years prior to this current complaint. Including a complaint by a co-worker who claimed she was raped by Diaz after an office party. No criminal charges were filed in any of the previous complaints.
In the wake of the complaints, Cedars-Sinai has taken steps to link previously separate databases of employee records, patient complaints and other information, said hospital spokeswoman Sally Stewart. She said the hospital made the changes to improve tracking of allegations against individual staff members but added that it would be speculation to say whether the new system would have led to earlier action in Diaz’s case.
Stewart noted that Diaz was never charged as a result of separate LAPD probes of sexual assault reports made before last year. The hospital, she said, investigated all of the complaints and encouraged the patients who came forward last year to report what occurred to police.
“The totality of all the allegations is completely unacceptable to Cedars-Sinai,” Stewart said. 31 March 2014, Los Angeles Times.
The hospital terminated Diaz’s employment after the investigation began.
Cases such as these are becoming increasingly more common, and have resulted in major awards against California medical centers.
If you, or someone you love, have been abused at a medical center, please contact our office today at 888.212.0440 or through the form below for a free case review.