RI EMT Who Appeared on Jeopardy Has License Suspended for Alleged Sexual Misconduct

RI EMT Who Appeared on Jeopardy Has License Suspended for Alleged Sexual Misconduct

A Rhode Island nurse — who is also an EMT — has had both licenses summarily suspended by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) for alleged sexual misconduct. 

RIDOH this week said that it has “evidence” that Louis DellaPeruta — who had appeared on the game show "Jeopardy!" in 2022 — “engaged in unprofessional physical contact with a patient while employed at an urgent care center.”

On Tuesday RIDOH suspended his nursing license; on Wednesday, it suspended his EMT license. 

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He is now scheduled to appear at a hearing before the Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education at the end of June.

The Department of Health said "evidence exists indicating [DellaPeruta's] continuation in practice would constitute an immediate danger to the public."

 

About Case

According to RIDOH, the state received a complaint “alleging sexual miscount and inappropriate, unprofessional behavior toward a patient, and inappropriate, unprofessional conduct towards a colleague, by the Respondent while working at the urgent care center” on June 13, 2023.

He had started working at the facility on June 6. 

RIDOH in its summary suspension stated the following: 

RIDOH goes on to state:

“The patient was moved to another room for treatment. [DellaPeruta] entered this examination room and proceeded to inquire if the rash was on the patient’s face, back, or genital area. The Respondent then closed the examination room door, and, when asked where the rash ended, the patient showed the Respondent her stomach area. The Respondent left the room.”

“Subsequently, the assigned treatment provider, a staff APRN, assessed and treated the patient. The APRN communicated to the patient that the visit was almost over and then left the room. The Respondent, without direction to do so, then entered the patient’s room for a third encounter with the patient. The Respondent closed the door and directed the patient to allow him to observe how close the rash was to the patient’s nipples, fully exposing the patient’s breast. The Respondent then asked to see the patient’s exposed buttocks and unclothed vulva area. The Respondent observed these areas and touched them.”

RIDOH calms that DellaPeruta did not document his actions, and that they were in direct violation of state law. 

When reached, DellaPeruta said he had "no comment" on the suspensions.