News

Actions

Orem woman says she was sexually assaulted by hospital worker

Posted at 9:06 PM, May 01, 2013
and last updated 2013-05-02 18:18:00-04

OREM, Utah -- An Orem woman said she was sexually assaulted during her hospital stay at Intermountain Medical Center.

Meghan Wilson shared her story exclusively with Fox 13. She said what she went through was terrifying, and she wants the public to know what happened to her.

"I could feel everything, but I couldn't talk, I couldn't tell him to stop, I couldn't tell him or see him," Wilson said.

Meghan Wilson is 26 years old, and she suffers from Stiff Person Syndrome, which can cause debilitating spasms.

Her husband Kyle said: "She goes completely stiff, but every muscle in her body is contracting. She`ll come back to the conversation like nothing happened."

Meghan Wilson said she can't talk, walk or see during the spasms, but she can feel and hear everything.

Meghan's disease landed her in Intermountain Medical Center on April 19, and an attack put her in the ICU several days later. She said that on Sunday a hospital worker fondled her private parts during an exam.

"He asked the nurse why I was in there,” Meghan Wilson said. “She said, ‘This person has stiff person syndrome, and she’s in a coma-like state. She can’t talk and her eyes are shut.’ I don`t think he realized that I was aware of my surroundings."

Meghan Wilson said when she finally came out of her spasm later that evening she went to her husband for help.

"I was embarrassed to tell my husband because I felt bad, so I called my husband and told him what happened, and he got to the hospital pretty much immediately."

Meghan Wilson said her husband had to push for Murray Police to be contacted,

"My husband said, ‘I want someone here immediately,’ and we both agreed that it needed to be further investigated than just them saying wait until Monday like it was no big deal; they were writing off the whole situation,” Meghan Wilson said.

Officer Kenny Bass, Murray Police Department, said this is an open and active criminal investigation that is in the early stages of fact-finding.

"A case such as this, a claim of sexual assault, is taken very seriously, and it will be investigated thoroughly,” he said.

Police haven’t said much about the case except that a detective has been assigned to investigate the sexual assault allegations. And, while they can't reveal many details, Bass said, "The information that we got from her, we have no reason to question her credibility.”

Meghan Wilson said she wants justice.

"I want him to be convicted; I don`t think it’s right,” she said. “The hospital is supposed to be one of the safest places to be, and that`s what the nurse told my husband, ‘she`s in a safe place and not to worry.’"

Jess Gomez, spokesman for Intermountain Medical Center, released a statement, saying:

"Because of state and federal privacy laws, we cannot comment on specific patient information. However, whenever serious allegations are made, we take them very seriously and immediately involve local law enforcement officials and conduct a thorough investigation. The welfare and safety of our patients is always our utmost concern."