Hospital employee beat partially paralyzed patient with remote controller, feds say

A 76-year-old woman was sentenced after being accused of beating a partially paralyzed patient with his bed’s remote controller in Washington, D.C., federal officials said.

In 2021, Eleanor Flowers, a certified nurse aid, was employed at the United Medical Center where she was a patient sitter for a 68-year-old man, according to court documents.

While attempting to change his soiled clothing, Flowers struck him with the hospital bed’s remote controller, according to a Dec. 10 news release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

McClatchy News reached out to Flowers’ lawyers and United Medical Center on Dec. 11 and was awaiting a response.

The patient was partially paralyzed and unable to speak after suffering a stroke prior to the incident, classifying him as a “vulnerable adult,” prosecutors said.

The assault was captured on video by another patient sitter in the room, officials said.

The video showed Flowers striking him repeatedly and him showing signs of “visible distress,” officials said.

While assaulting him, Flowers was yelling to “turn over,” according to the affidavit.

After the assault was reported, Flowers was terminated from her position, officials said.

Flowers was convicted on charges of abuse of a vulnerable adult and attempted threats, prosecutors said.

She was sentenced to 24 months of probation, officials said. She also must stay away from the patient and is not allowed to work, volunteer, or participate in “any activity involving the elderly, vulnerable, cognitively disabled, or children, to include activities in hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, doctors’ offices, urgent care, and daycare,” according to the release.

This story was originally published December 11, 2024 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Hospital employee beat partially paralyzed patient with remote controller, feds say."