In June 2023, Louis Dellaperuta, a registered nurse practitioner and emergency medical technician in Rhode Island had his license suspended after being accused of sexual misconduct. His hearing was scheduled for June 27 and, if found responsible, his license could be suspended further or revoked outright.

Allegations Lead to Suspension

The complaints stated that while Dellaperuta was working at an urgent-care facility he made a sexually suggestive comment to a medical assistant he worked with. After making the comment, he asked to observe the taking of a female patient's vitals even though she was not his patient and then allegedly inquired about the location of her rash while stretching the waistline of her pants, exposing her genitals. Dellaperuta then left the room and returned later where he apparently closed the door and directed the victim to strip and inappropriately touched her.

The goal of the Board of Nursing is to protect the health and welfare of the public. When a medical professional violates the rules which govern their profession, they break the public's trust. In this sense, it is understandable that the Board of Nursing would hope to prevent any further injury by removing Dellaperuta from practice and preventing him from using his license. However, without knowing what exactly happened in the room, it is unfair to punish him in such a significant way. Not only can he not practice, but his ability to provide for himself and have any sort of liberties is completely squashed.

Law Enforcement Involvement

Under the Board of Nursing's regulations, they state that the judicial “buck” does not stop with them. They have every right to refer any matter to law enforcement if they believe it is necessary. That being said, and given that the nature of this case is rooted - allegedly - in sexual misconduct, Dellaperuta's case will likely referred to local or federal law enforcement for criminal charges. In fact, Dellaperuta could be criminally charged with assault and battery, sexual battery, sexual assault, and/or sexual harassment. Each of these crimes carries a hefty prison sentence.

How an Attorney Can Help

Unfortunately, often times allegations of misconduct result in a nursing license suspension prior to being adjudicated. This means you are being punished before any real investigation has been made into the allegations. To prevent any unnecessary hardships and consequences, it is imperative you consult with the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team.

Lento Law Firm has years of experience helping nurses defend themselves against baseless accusations. They will ensure the nursing board upholds your due process rights, including your right to defend yourself. In the case above, the officials stated that there was no proper documentation made for any of these interactions. What's to say any of these incidents even happened? Lento Law Firm will ask the tough questions for you and help you craft a strategic defense, guaranteeing you the best possible outcome for your case. Call 888-535-3686 today for help or schedule a consultation online.