Nurse Sexually Assaulted 2 Women At Glenbrook Hospital: Police

GLENVIEW, IL — A nurse at Glenbrook Hospital sexually assaulted at least two patients in the last year, authorities said. In both cases, the Glencoe man is accused of assaulting women after administering them painkillers.

David Giurgiu, 26, of the 300 block of Park Avenue, raped a 75-year-old woman last November and forced himself on a 53-year-old woman in last month, according to Glenview police and Cook County prosecutors.

At a bond hearing Friday in Skokie, a judge ordered Giurgiu held without bail at Cook County Jail in connection with felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, a class X felony, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a class 4 felony, ahead of his next court appearance Sept. 27.

In the first incident, prosecutors said a woman was being treated for a broken leg. She was in extreme pain during the early morning of Nov. 23, 2018, when she told her family members to go home.

With her eyes closed, she asked her nurse, Giurgiu, for more painkillers. Before assaulting her, he told her to hold out her hand, and later to open her mouth. The patient, in shock according to prosecutors, was later transferred to another hospital for surgery.

That month, police opened an investigation, and prosecutors said the victim notified other medical personnel and a family member about the incident.

But Giurgiu was only fired after a second woman reported he sexually abused her, prosecutors said.

On the night of Aug. 10, a 53-year-old woman arrived at the hospital suffering pains related to an existing health condition, the assistant state's attorney told the judge Friday.

After the end of the shift of a nurse familiar to the patient ended, the hospital transferred her care to Giurgiu, who was introduced her to her "Dan," according to prosecutors.

Medical personnel decided to give the woman a dose of pain medication and send her home from the hospital, prosecutors said.

As Giurgiu injected the medication in her arm, he began rubbing himself on her, according to prosecutors. He told her to open her mouth and she refused.

After the incident, he wiped off the victim with her hospital gown and told her she was discharged. The patient told hospital administrators when she returned the next day and was admitted to the hospital for further care. Administrators conducted an internal investigation, notified police and fired Giurgiu, prosecutors said.

Authorities said Giurgiu was taken into custody Sept. 4 after agreeing to speak to investigators and admitting his involvement in both incidents.

NorthShore Public Relations Director Jim Anthony provided a statement on behalf of the organization.

"Our patients are our highest priority and we do not tolerate any behavior that threatens their safety or wellbeing," it said. "We have terminated the individual's employment and are cooperating with local authorities in their investigation of the matter. We care deeply about our patients and work diligently to provide a healthy and safe environment."

Anthony declined to say when the allegations were reported, when Giurgiu was suspended or fired and how long he worked for NorthShore or at Glenbrook Hospital.

Glenview police said Glenbrook Hospital administrators have cooperated in the investigations and asked anyone who may be a victim or has additional information to contact the Glenview Police Department tip line by phone at 847-901-6055 or by email.

NorthShore is facing multiple lawsuits from former patients of gynecologist Fabio Ortega that allege the hospital group, which operates Evanston Hospital, Highland Park Hospital and Skokie Hospital, in addition to Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, continued to allow a doctor accused of sexual misconduct to be alone with patients long after learning of complaints.

Tamara Holder, a lawyer representing 18 of his former patients, said he victimized at least 21 women. Ortega was indicted about six weeks before the first incident involving Giurgiu was reported to authorities, records show.

Earlier:

• Four More Women Sue NorthShore And Its Disgraced Gynecologist
• NorthShore Put Patients At Risk Of Indicted Gynecologist: Suits
• NorthShore Gynecologist Indicted On Sexual Assault Charge