Did Sexually Abusive Hospital Nurse Receive Background Check Before Hire?

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the Kissimmee Police Department has charged a male nurse at Osceola Regional Medical Center with multiple counts of sexual battery.

According to the Sentinel, Shean Galvin, 49, was working in the emergency room at ORMC when he sexually assaulted to separate patients in September and October.  In the first incident, a woman arrived in the emergency room after falling at home.  Nurse Galvin reportedly asked to see the patient's breasts, then gave her intravenous pain medication.  He then moved the patient to another room, and reportedly forced her to perform oral sex on him.  He reportedly offered to provide her with more pain medication if she would return to see him.  Galvin called the patient a few days later attempting to see her again.  She provided his cell phone number to police, who traced it back to him.

While this was going on, Galvin came into contact with another female emergency room patient who complained of an infection.  Galvin gave her injections into her buttocks, but also told the patient he needed to examine her vagina.  While doing so, he reportedly inserted his finger into her rectum.  The woman immediately reported the event to a nursing supervisor.  Galvin reportedly apologized for perhaps accidentally brushing up against the woman while checking her bandages.  However, the woman's bandages were just below hip level...

Apparently, the hospital has now suspended Nurse Galvin.

It will be interesting to see how this case develops.  The piece does not say how long Mr. Galvin worked at ORMC, but if these allegations are true, it would be unusual in my experence handling Florida sexual abuse cases that these incidents would be isolated.

I wonder how much background checking ORMC did regarding Nurse Galvin.  I also wonder if there was negligence in the overall supervision of Nurse Galvin in the emergency room and with patients.  We will have to keep an eye out for new developments on this case.

If you have any questions regarding a sexual abuse situation, call Winter Park personal injury lawyer Kim Cullen at 407-254-4901.