A Connecticut nurse has lost her job and had her license suspended after being accused of striking a dementia patient at Johnson Memorial Hospital. Former nurse Samantha Barletta was charged with third-degree assault on February 15, 2024, after hospital security video of the incident was discovered. 

Losing a professional license can be a life-changing event that costs you your occupation and damages your reputation. If your license is in jeopardy, The Lento Law Firm's experienced Professional License Defense Team can help. Contact us today at 888.535.3686 or connect with us online for a confidential consultation. 

An Ongoing Investigation 

According to the arrest warrant, Barletta is accused of striking the 71-year-old patient with a closed fist in December of 2023. State police began their investigation in January after a social worker at the victim's nursing home notified them of the allegations. The hospital, which had not contacted the Department of Health despite apparent knowledge of the incident, turned over the security video footage to the police as part of this investigation. 

Barletta, 37, was released from her job at the hospital, although it is unclear if this happened prior to police involvement. Now, her nursing license has been suspended, with the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing awaiting Barletta to formally relinquish the license. This is all part of the investigatory and adjudication process for professional license, which is being carried out in this case by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. 

At this time, it's unclear why Johnson Memorial Hospital did not report the incident themselves and whether or not that is part of the state's investigation. 

A Difficult Burden of Proof 

Assault is, unfortunately, one of the common causes of license issues. For Barletta, the security video formed the backbone of the case against her. Another nurse witnessed the incident but claims to have not had a clear view of what happened. That nurse also feared retaliation by Barletta, which made them hesitant to sign any written statements in relation to the incident. This just illustrates how difficult it can be to get to the truth in a case like this. 

Accusations of assault should always be taken seriously, and they can clearly be difficult to prove. This is especially true in cases involving patients with dementia, as in this incident. The social worker, in this case, did their duty in reporting the accusations, and the hospital was right in turning over the video evidence. But things aren't always so clear-cut. 

If your professional license is jeopardized in any way, it's important to mount the right defense. For that, you need the insight and experience of a seasoned defense team. Call the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team at 888.535.3686 or contact us online to schedule your confidential consultation today.