NEW: RI Hospital Nursing Assistant Suspended for Sexual Assault

NEW: RI Hospital Nursing Assistant Suspended for Sexual Assault

A nursing assistant at Rhode Island Hospital has been suspended after having sexually assaulted a female patient, according to documents released by the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH).

Nathaniel Rodrigues was employed as a Nursing Assistant at Rhode Island Hospital on September 24, 2012, when he assaulted a female patient by "digitally penetrating her vagina and sexually fondling her," according to HEALTH.

Based on the foregoing, the Director of Health has determined that the continuation of the license of Rodrigues as a Nursing Assistant "constitutes an imminent threat to the health, welfare and safety of the public and imperatively requires emergency action."

Rodrigues' license is suspended indefinitely.