Chicago police investigating after woman says St. Bernard Hospital respiratory therapist sexually assaulted her during appointment

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago police are investigating after a woman says she was sexually assaulted by a respiratory therapist at St. Bernard Hospital.

Tiffany Washington, 46, has a long history as a patient at the Englewood facility. She was born there, as were her children, and has received treatment for asthma there throughout her life. This is why she was present at the hospital on the afternoon of January 27.

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“It was time to get respiratory breathing at one o’clock,” she said.

Washington said instead of helping her breathe, her male respiratory therapist took his pants down and forced Washington’s hand onto his genitalia.

“I jerked away, I was trying to get up to go to the door and get out. He pushed me in the bathroom, he locked the door,” Washington said.

According to Washington, she was sexually assaulted by a respiratory therapist in the bathroom. After the incident, she tried to seek help by calling out for nurses, but received no response. It was only when she went to the nurses’ station and demanded to see a hospital manager that someone finally paid attention.

“The manager came. He wasn’t concerned about nothing. He made it seem like it’s like if I was lying on something, on his on his employees,” she said.

Following the assault, Washington contacted the police, who took her to the University of Chicago Hospital for a rape kit examination. She is hopeful that the DNA evidence will tie back to the therapist. Washington is now speaking up to advocate for the therapist to face legal consequences and for St. Bernard Hospital to take responsibility for the incident.

“I want him to be prosecuted for this. I want Bernard to step up and, you know, admit that they was wrong, especially the manager, he totally didn’t act like he cared enough about my life,” she said.

In a written statement, a spokesperson for St. Bernard Hospital wrote, “As patient safety is our utmost priority, we took immediate steps to investigate the situation and we also are cooperating with the Chicago Police Department in its own investigation. Both investigations are ongoing at this time.”

While Washington waits for DNA results, the St. Bernard spokesperson could not say whether the employee has been placed on leave. The hospital said they cannot provide any more detail beyond what is in the written statement.

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