Duke Health Nurse Accused of Sexually Assaulting ‘Incapacitated’ Patiens At Hospital, Cops say

Charges Filed After Duke Health Nurse Accused of Assaulting Incapacitated Patients

DURHAM, N.C. – According to Duke University Campus Police, a Duke Health nurse is accused of sexually assaulting two patients who were unable to consent. The suspect, 39-year-old Jomil Uy Tugado, was arrested Thursday following an investigation tied to incidents that allegedly happened months apart — one in May and another in December, court records show.

Arrest warrants claim Tugado carried out sexual acts while the patients were “incapacitated.” Prosecutors charged him with multiple felony counts of sexual contact and penetration under the guise of medical treatment, along with sex acts by an employee of a medical institution. He’s also facing two misdemeanor sexual battery charges.

Officials with Duke Health confirmed Tugado was pulled from patient care and placed on administrative leave on December 7, just one day after investigators say the second assault occurred. Records show he began working for Duke Health in July 2023.

The North Carolina Board of Nursing lists Tugado as a registered nurse with a license originally set to expire in February 2027 — but that license was suspended the same day he was charged.

In a statement, Duke Health said it is fully cooperating with law enforcement and urged anyone who may have experienced or witnessed inappropriate behavior to contact their hotline at (919) 385-3575.

“At Duke Health, our top priority is maintaining a safe environment for every patient,” the system said. “We have zero tolerance for sexual misconduct and take all allegations seriously.”

During Tugado’s first court appearance Friday, a judge denied bond. He is scheduled to return to court on January 6.

Tugado is now the second hospital employee in just two weeks accused of sexually assaulting patients. Earlier this month, a nurse at UNC Rex — 28-year-old Brayan Alvarez-Ortiz — was charged after Raleigh police say he sexually assaulted sedated patients on three separate occasions while they were recovering from surgery.