A nurse from Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville, N.C., was arrested and charged with the assault of a 91-year-old dementia patient Monday, according to the Charlotte Observer.
Tamara Hager Brito was charged with two counts of assault and one count of false imprisonment. She was released after posting the $20,000 bail.
The allegations of abuse against an elderly man were first reported Thursday by the patient's daughter. According to a report from local CBS affiliate WNCN, the first alleged incident occurred March 1, when Ms. Brito tied the patient to his bed when he became uncooperative. The second alleged assault occurred March 4 when Ms. Brito reportedly sprayed the patient in the face with lotion because he was uncooperative when being moved from his recliner to his bed.
Ms. Brito was suspended after hospital officials were notified about the allegations. Her employment was terminated after investigators determined the allegations warranted charges, according to WNCN.
"The employees at Iredell Memorial are very committed to providing the highest quality of care to all of our patients. Any allegations of inappropriate conduct are taken seriously and carefully investigated," Ed Rush, president and CEO of Iredell Health Systems stated, according to WNCN.
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