Nurse, aide plead not guilty to allegedly assaulting elderly patient at Woodhaven Nursing Home

Two health care workers accused of abusing an elderly patient in Port Jefferson Station last year have pleaded not guilty. Authorities say licensed nurse Raquel Bouton, of Mount Sinai, and personal

News 12 Staff

Jun 26, 2013, 3:11 AM

Updated 4,178 days ago

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Two health care workers accused of abusing an elderly patient in Port Jefferson Station last year have pleaded not guilty.

Authorities say licensed nurse Raquel Bouton, of Mount Sinai, and personal care aide Laura Harper, of Coram, assaulted an 88-year-old patient with dementia at the Woodhaven Nursing Home back in March 2012.

An administrator at the home says the patient was soaked in urine and wouldn't let the two former employees clean him up. Against all protocol, the administrator adds that Bouton and Harper allegedly tied his hands, punched him and put a pillow over his head.

According to an eight-count indictment secured by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, the patient suffered bruising to the torso and pain, as well as restricted breathing.

An aide who witnessed the incident came forward two days after it happened. Officials at the nursing home then reported the allegation to the state.

This is the second case of alleged abuse by workers at Woodhaven in the past few months. This past March, two workers were accused of taking disturbing images and video of patients.

The women face top felony assault charges and could spend up to seven years behind bars if convicted.