- Hospital margins lag as expense growth outpaces inflation: 5 notes
- Every safety event has a cultural backstory – The hidden cost of dominant leadership in healthcare
- Franciscan Alliance CEO to retire
- Fish Oil Supplements May Be A Bust For Alzheimer's Prevention
- Prehab Can Boost Seniors' Recuperation From Spinal Fusion Surgery, Trial Finds
- Ozempic Might Cut Risk Of Broken Bones, Study Says
- Dog Owners Feel Similar Grief Whether Pets Euthanized, Die Naturally
- Massage Guns Can Cause Eye Damage, Vision Loss, Case Report Warns
- Hiring, pay and restructuring: 4 HR leaders on difficult workforce decisions
- First free dental clinic opens in New Jersey
- The week in hospital M&A
- 5 dental insurance changes dentists need to know from the past 15 days
- A new medical school is opening nearby. What do health systems do first?
- ‘Snowbirds’ and ‘med-à-terres’: The market behaviors shaping systems’ growth decisions
- Indiana dental office manager sentenced to 36 months in prison for Medicaid fraud
- OpenAI says new ChatGPT model tops physician-written health answers
- CMS’ accreditation overhaul: What it means for hospitals
- Eli Lilly begins denying 340B discounts
- 5 cardiology leaders building the ASC ownership model
- What it actually takes to launch cardiac ablations in an ASC
- 5 federal, state legislative updates affecting the dental workforce
- How many dentists the largest DSOs support
- 8 new behavioral health projects to know
- Anesthesia has a usage problem not a workforce shortage, leaders say
- Remain or Reimagine: Free Interactive Tool Shows Dentists the value of remaining independent vs partnering with Elevate
- Pennsylvania dental group settles patient coverage lawsuit for $1M
- Pennsylvania physicians push back on consolidation with first-ever independent practice summit
- The ASC procedure list is growing — here’s what’s still missing
- wRVU pay, hospital subsidies don’t constitute Stark law fraud, court rules
- Specialty dentists’ compensation has climbed 39% since 2019
- ASCs’ block time hoarding problem
- Oregon prosecutors urge state to fix mental health system
- Arkansas lab pays $30M to settle kickback allegations tied to gastroenterology practices
- The case for layering behavioral healthcare models
- Why dentistry needs a revamp
- Rural, independent Kansas hospitals launch clinically integrated network
- Nova Southeastern launches 1st anesthesiologist assistant program in Nevada
- 12 behavioral health services, facility closures | 2026
- Higher, short-acting opioid doses linked to 8% lower discharge risk: 4 notes
- Cardiologists push back on CMS’ proposed pay policy changes
- 14,700 bottles of antidepressant recalled over impurity concerns
- FTC orders Aurobindo to divest 4 drugs to complete $250M Lannett acquisition
- Congressional Budget Office calls for more research on No Surprises Act unintended impacts
- 7 DSOs making headlines
- HHS opens applications for $700M in mental health, addiction funding, with $96M for new STREETS program
- Ebola Infections Climb, Could Take Year To Contain, Health Officials Say
- How Northwell is using paramedics to close behavioral healthcare gaps
- Feeling Sleepy During the Day? It Could Be a Warning Sign for High Blood Pressure
- FTC, states sue transgender health association over 'misleading' gender care guidance
- Healthcare organizations still struggle to operationalize AI at scale: Arcadia survey
- Pfizer hunts for new CFO as Denton prepares to hang up gloves, wave goodbye to pharma
- Major League Pitchers Might Avoid Elbow Injuries By Altering Their Approach, Simulation Suggests
- Birth Control Pills Might Increase Binge Eating Risk, Study Finds
- Women Might Lower Their Heart Risk By Lifting Weights, Study Says
- Personalized Brain Implant Provides Step-By-Step Walking Boost For Parkinson's Patients
- Amid industry’s cell therapy automation push, Cellares and Ori dominate the field: report
- Most Americans Are Surviving Cancer. But The Mental Health Challenges Can Persist.
- Listen to the Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’
- Readers Curse Medical Debt and Defend Spelling Therapy
- Arrests of Immigrant Parents Create Mental Health Crisis for Children
- Sandwiched Between Caring for Kids and Aging Parents? Reach Out for Resources
- Novo's success with oral Wegovy has been fueled by 'familiarity': Spherix
- 20 new behavioral health study findings to know
- 31 behavioral health executive moves to know
- Centerstone names COO
- One Medical Seniors reports data breach of third-party vendor impacting 'limited' number of patients
- A look at Epic's long-term play to build tech for operations, starting with scheduling
- U.K. Moves To Ban Social Media For Children
- Pregnant Woman Exposed to 45 Common Chemicals, Study Finds
- OhioHealth reaches settlement with DOJ, Ohio AG on antitrust lawsuit
- 4 years after snub, GSK partnership helps Spero get Utebzi across FDA finish line
- Despite 'decent' data, Verastem rethinks options for approved oncology combo in pancreatic cancer
- OIG report raises red flags about maternal health 'ghost networks' in Medicaid managed care
- Lantern, Marathon Health team up to launch integrated care management model
- Novo Nordisk opens Czech plant and unveils $29M upgrade to China facility
- Whoop, HealthEx partner to connect members’ medical records and biometric data
- GSK runs first DTC ad for would-be asthma blockbuster Exdensur
- Novo security breach claimed by hacking groups seeking multi-million-dollar ransoms: reports
- After FDA sign-off, Colorado's drug import plan faces tough road ahead
- Lower Risk Of Death, Clots Among Autoimmune Patients Taking GLP-1 Drugs
- Surgical Menopause Tied To Worse Sexual And Urinary Symptoms
- Post-Op Delirium Common In Seniors, But Not All Hospitals Screen For It
- Nortiva purrs into action with long-acting Lynx platform salvaged from Langer startup
- Why one life insurer is going big on health incentives
- Weekly Rundown: Lumeris adds symptom-checking tool to AI platform; DeepIntent rolls out agentic AI tool for healthcare marketers
- Early-Onset Cancers Are On The Rise. Knowing Your Family History Is Crucial.
- Minimally Invasive Procedure Eases Arthritis Knee Pain, Study Finds
- Tennessee Pharmacies Sell Potent Ivermectin, Led by Anti-Vaccine Doctor Who’s Taken ‘Bucketloads’
- More Americans Are Surviving Cancer. But the Mental Health Challenges Can Persist.
- Democrats Seek To Spotlight Rising Health Costs by Forcing Vote on Trump Regulation
- Health services deal value holds steady in 2026 with higher bar for investment: PwC
- CMS tightens oversight of accreditation organizations, limits fee-based consulting
- MedPAC offers a look at enrollment hiccups for Medicare beneficiaries
- CDC, FDA Tackle New World Screwworm, Including Drug Authorization
- 'Biopharma ecosystem is back to full health,' fueled by M&A: PwC
- Lifestyle Changes Can Reduce Your Risk For Multiple Chronic Diseases
- US telehealth utilization climbs 10.1% in Q1, led by mental health visits: Fair Health
- FDA, UK drug regulator deepen transatlantic ties with new liaison program
- People Walk, Exercise Less After Starting Ozempic, Zepbound
- Family Finances Shape Children’s Brain Development, Study Finds
- At-Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Reduces Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke
- Moderna hires Novartis vet to lead commercial, upsizes role for Hoge as potential launches loom
- Uncovr secures $7M in seed funding for AI surgical documentation platform
- Long-Awaited Rule Aims To Boost ACA Choices While Embracing Higher Deductibles
- Many Men Are Prescribed Testosterone Without Proper Testing
- Early-Onset Cancers Are on the Rise. Knowing Your Family History Is Crucial.
- Backed by Threat of Clawbacks, Feds Wield Tight Grip on $50B Rural Health Fund
- Stealth BioTherapeutics removes cloak to become Mighty
- Recipharm channels ‘multi-million-dollar' US manufacturing upgrade, targeting domestic biologics demand
- DeepIntent gives Helix an AI twist to help marketers query data
- PhRMA talks up the power of ‘Medicines First’ in new campaign
- Centene offering staff buyouts as it navigates murky ACA waters
- KFF: Insurer participation in the ACA marketplaces declined from 2025 to 2026
- Organic Baby Formula Recalled Following Botulism Cases
- Germany backs off plan to install variable discount pricing on drugs: report
- Judge tosses multiple provisions of CMS' 2025 ACA program integrity rule
- FDA Approves First Over-the-Counter Glucose Monitor for Children, The Stelo Glucose Biosensor System
- You've Won The Game
- IQVIA taps AI to put overlooked prescribers on marketers’ maps
- Many Patients Stop And Restart GLP-1 Meds, Study Finds
- Merck's Welireg-Keytruda pairing sticks the landing in adjuvant kidney cancer treatment with new FDA nod
- Sanofi, once on FDA course for speedy approval, gains late expansion for Tzield
- Half Of U.S. Parents Track Their Adult Children’s Location
- Taking GLP-1s While On BP Meds May Up Your Risk Of Dizzy Spells, Fainting
- Trust In CDC Plummets Under Trump Administration, New Poll Shows
- Fentanyl Users Take Daily Doses 60 Times The Lethal Level
- Final Rules For Medicaid Work Requirements Are Out. Here's What You Need To Know.
- Long-Awaited Rule Aims To Boost ACA Choices While Embracing Higher Deductibles
- Remarks to the US-CEE Connection: Transatlantic Challenges in Law, Business & Policy
- Influencers, Booze And Teens: What's Showing Up In Their Feeds?
- Health 'War Room,' Digital Tools Are Tracking Disease Risks During World Cup
- Food Labels and Restrictions Can Lower Childhood Obesity Rates, Study Finds
- Tourette Patients Face High Suicide Risk, Pain And Discrimination
- Have A Risk-Taking Teen? This Brain Chemical Might Be Responsible, Researchers Say
- Statement Regarding Minimum Pricing Increments and Access Fee Caps
- Statement at the SEC Open Meeting on the Trade-Through Rule and Locked and Crossed Markets Provisions of Regulation NMS
- Disorder Protection Rule: Statement on the Proposed Amendments to Rule 611 and Other Provisions of Regulation NMS
- Statement on the Proposed Amendments to Regulation NMS
- This Old House: Improving and Remodeling Our Registered Offering and Filer Status Regimes
- How lab data powers precision commercialization to drive therapy adoption
- Peirce Out: Remarks at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Capital Markets Summit
- Medtronic Advances Hugo Robotic Surgery Platform with Key FDA Filings and Product Approvals
- Medtronic Advances Hugo Robotic Surgery Platform with Key FDA Filings and Product Approvals
- Medtronic Posts Strongest Revenue Growth in a Decade, Driven by Cardiovascular and Surgical Businesses
- Medtronic Posts Strongest Revenue Growth in a Decade, Driven by Cardiovascular and Surgical Businesses
- Boston Scientific Plans Indiana Distribution Center, 300 New Jobs
- Boston Scientific Plans Indiana Distribution Center, 300 New Jobs
- “Harmonization: We’ll Have Lots to Talk About”
- Remarks at the Investor Advisory Committee Meeting
- A Quarter for Your Thoughts: Remarks at the Meeting of the SEC Investor Advisory Committee
Michigan healthcare freedom community forum
Nurses committing criminal sexual conduct with patients is uncommon, but another issue health care managers must be aware of. When it does happen, the resulting civil lawsuits can be devastating to health care institutions:
Michigan hospital enabled ‘sexual predator’ nurse, lawsuit claims
By Justin P. Hicks | October 8, 2025A former Detroit nurse has been accused of sexually abusing and assaulting numerous patients while working at Detroit Medical Center’s Sinai-Grace Hospital.
Wilfredo Figueroa-Berrios, 47, was arrested on multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct in the third and fourth degree in Wayne County. He’s also named in a pair of recent civil lawsuits, which accuse the Sinai-Grace of negligence in its hiring and continuing to employ the “known sexual predator.”
He was arraigned on the latest criminal sexual conduct charges Oct. 4. and remained in jail as of Wednesday afternoon, according to court records. Attempts by MLive to contact his attorney were not immediately successful.
Attorneys representing the women who have accused Figueroa-Berrios said there are at least seven survivors who have come forward to law enforcement as of Wednesday, Oct. 8, including five from his previous employment by Trinity Health in Livonia. MLive wasn’t able to reach a Trinity spokesperson for comment.
Attorneys for the survivors anticipate “countless” more coming forward.
“Somebody who is depraved enough to commit sexual violence on patients, doesn’t wake up one day and say, ‘Hey, today’s a good day to start, right?,’” said Jim Harrington, one of the attorneys for the women.
“This is something that develops over time, that supervisors and administrators who do their job would see this. It was there before they even let this man into that building with the body of previous complaints (against him).”
Sinai-Grace and its parent company, Tenet Healthcare, have been served with at least one related lawsuit. Others are expected to be filed in the coming days, according to attorneys Harrington and Todd Flood.
In a statement, Sinai-Grace said it has a rigorous process in place to screen applicants prior to employment. That process didn’t identify a concern regarding Figueroa-Berrios.
“Upon becoming aware of these allegations, Sinai-Grace proactively initiated contact with and notified law enforcement and suspended the employee, who has since been terminated,” the statement said. “We do not condone any type of abuse and are cooperating fully with law enforcement.”
But Harrington said efforts by the hospital to contact Figueroa-Berrios’ prior employer or to assess his social media pages would have turned up concerning history.
Harrington and Flood said the hospital enabled the nurse’s alleged predatory behavior and retaliated against victims who spoke out against him. They said a future lawsuit will be filed on behalf of one such whistleblower.
In the latest lawsuit, filed Tuesday, Oct. 7, a 49-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) alleged the nurse touched her genitals under the false guise of adjusting her catheter in August 2024. The complaint said she didn’t have a urinary catheter at the time of the unconsented and offensive touching.
The lawsuit said Sinai-Grace Hospital was aware of -- or reasonably should have known about -- Figueroa-Berrios’s history of predatory behavior, including a 2019 assault arrest and sexual misconduct complaints that led to his firing from another hospital previously.
A second lawsuit alleges the nurse made lewd and inappropriate sexual comments toward a female patient who was intoxicated and taken to Sinai-Grace for medical intervention this August. He proceeded to grope her breast and body over her hospital gown, expose his genitals, and coerced her to perform oral sex on him.
Throughout the one night stay, the lawsuit claimed he “exploited the patient’s intoxication and vulnerability” to coerce her into performing oral sex at least four times.
No medical or nursing notes were documented in her medical records over a 12-hour span that night prior to her being discharged the next morning.
Upon being re-admitted for medical care a few days later, the patient reported the sexual assaults to two head nurses. She said she was denied access to a social worker or patient advocate to assist or support her, and was met with hostility from Sinai-Grace staff before being discharged.
Police investigating a rape claim reviewed surveillance footage and confirmed Figueroa-Berrios repeatedly entered her hospital room through the night, remaining each time for several minutes.
He was arrested Aug. 27 and charged with five counts of criminal sexual conduct. During his arraignment, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Grace Broughton said her office had at least four more pending cases against him.
Figueroa-Berrios was arraigned on two more criminal sexual conduct charges Sept. 4 related to a May 4 incident. Prosecutors said he forced his way into a porta-john and sexually assaulted a 41-year-old woman outside Grand Circus Park in downtown Detroit. The two knew each other but were not involved in a relationship.
The former nurse obtained his nursing license in 2012. His license remained active as of Wednesday, according to state records.
Survivors are encouraged to contact Detroit police, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Fieger Law, or Flood Law to share their story.
Sinai-Grace Hospital was awarded a failing grade for patient safety during the nonprofit watchdog Leapfrog Group’s fall 2024 assessment period. The hospital was given a below-average score for a variety of safety problems based on data it reported to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Similarly, an assessment by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) noted “less than substantial compliance” to the state’s Mental Health Code by Sinai-Grace. The hospital got a score of 149 points out of 346.
CBS Detroit reports on the civil suits associated with this case.
The defendant was bound over for trial in Wayne County Circuit Court, on four counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, after a preliminary examination Thursday, Oct. 23. (MLive)
Today's WXYZ Detroit news video is omitted for length but available at the link.
Four new lawsuits filed against Sinai-Grace Hospital in nurse sexual assault case
Ruta Ulcinaite | Nov 05, 2025
DETROIT (WXYZ) — Four additional civil lawsuits were filed Wednesday against DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital and its parent company, Tenet Healthcare, in connection with a former hospital nurse accused of sexually assaulting multiple patients and colleagues.
The new lawsuits bring the total number of civil cases to seven against the hospital system, involving Wilfredo Figueroa-Berrios, who is currently facing multiple charges of alleged criminal sexual conduct.
Attorneys from Fieger Law and Flood Law announced the new cases at a press conference on Wednesday, saying they believe there could be many more victims.
"Literally, we are just scratching the surface of how broad this is," said James Harrington with Fieger Law.
The latest lawsuits include allegations from a colleague who worked with Figueroa-Berrios at the hospital.
"This survivor is one that worked with Berrios, was a nurse with Berrios, and the fact of the matter is he sexually assaulted her," said Todd Flood with Flood Law.
Another lawsuit filed Wednesday involves an alleged whistleblower who, attorneys say, tried to report Figueroa-Berrios' behavior to hospital supervisors.
"The whistleblower in this case was the one that gave notice, and filled out the reports, and brought it to the attention of the higher-ups, and instead of being accommodated, she was fired," Flood said.
The lawsuits claim the hospital failed to protect patients and employees from the former nurse. Attorneys say they have been receiving calls almost daily from other alleged victims since they began investigating the case and are looking into nearly a dozen other potential cases.
Sinai-Grace Hospital responded to 7 News Detroit's request for comment with the following statement:
Wilfredo Figueroa-Berrios was not our employee and did not work for our hospital in any capacity in 2016 or 2020. Sinai-Grace Hospital prioritizes the safety of our patients. The hospital has rigorous processes in place to screen applicants prior to employment. There was no indication of a concern during that process. We also have processes to identify and address patient safety issues and take appropriate action. Upon becoming aware of allegations against Mr. Berrios, Sinai-Grace proactively initiated contact with and notified law enforcement. The hospital also immediately suspended and ultimately terminated his employment. We do not condone any type of abuse and are cooperating fully with law enforcement. Federal privacy laws restrict us from sharing patient-specific information. Also, we do not tolerate retaliation of any kind. Our employees are required to report patient safety events. A particular employee’s departure from our organization is unrelated to any such required report that she may have made regarding Mr. Berrios’ conduct.
Figueroa-Berrios maintains his innocence and is expected back in court Friday.
Fourteen women are now suing nurse William Figueroa Berrios and DMC Sinai Grace Hospital for sex crimes in a single lawsuit. There may be other victims suing independently:
Fourteen women suing DMC, Sinai Grace Hospital, and ex-nurse charged with sex crimes
By Scott Wolchek - January 16, 2026
Now, 14 survivors are part of a civil lawsuit, with attorneys alleging the hospital knew Berrios was a predator long before he was arrested and charged in September 2025.The Brief
- Fourteen women are suing the DMC, Sinai Grace Hospital, and a former nurse charged with multiple sex crimes.
- A former DMC nurse at Sinai Grace Hospital, William Figueroa Berrios, is charged with multiple sex crimes involving patients.
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Fourteen women are now involved in a civil lawsuit filed against DMC, Sinai Grace Hospital, and a former nurse charged with multiple sex crimes involving patients.
Attorneys are now alleging the hospital system knew about the former nurse’s predatory behavior long before his arrest.
Big picture view: A former DMC nurse at Sinai Grace Hospital, William Figueroa Berrios, is charged with multiple sex crimes involving patients, as well as a separate alleged sexual assault inside a porta potty near Grand Circus Park.
Now, 14 survivors are part of a civil lawsuit, with attorneys alleging the hospital knew Berrios was a predator long before he was arrested and charged in September 2025.
"Sinai Grace has not told the full story," said attorney Bryce Hensley. "What we know based on our investigation and based on the hospital’s own documents signed by the criminal nurse himself is that in April 2024, just months into his work there, Sinai Grace was put on notice."
That notice, attorneys allege, was a complaint from a woman referred to as Jane Doe 1.
"Jane Doe complained of this nurse specifically," said Hensley. "That he requested she remove her clothing before a simple EKG procedure. The record indicates she not only refused this request but then demanded a female nurse going forward."
What they're saying: Attorneys say the hospital system had records of that complaint, yet did nothing about it until the summer of 2025, when he was finally arrested.
"And this is just the beginning. This is the first piece of evidence before we even engage in the litigation or discovery process. Evidence demonstrating Sinai Grace knew or should’ve known what was happening with its nurses within its walls and under its roof."
"The message the hospital sent to our clients and other women is they don’t care about the safety of their patients and these assaults are the price of doing business," said attorney Jennifer Cascio.
In a situation like what is coming out of Sinai Grace, the biggest mistake staff make is assuming someone else will flag it or that HR will handle it quietly. When I ran into something questionable at a hospital setting a few years back, I started writing down dates, patient room numbers, who was on shift, and saved copies at home because internal systems can get edited or locked.
I did not realize at the time how important early documentation is until I came across this article while trying to figure out what protections actually exist for reporting misconduct in a medical workplace. It explained that good faith reporting is protected even if the case takes years or never turns into charges, which pushed me to report through an external channel instead of relying on the hospital chain of command. If anyone around that unit saw patterns or felt something was off, keeping independent records now can matter later more than people think.
Get MHF Insights
News and tips for your healthcare freedom.
We never spam you. One-step unsubscribe.
Sponsors
J & DE Family Charitable Fund
Friends
of MHF
Kelly Grotendiek
Philip Harbach
Dale Johnson
Drs. Jeffrey and Joni Jones
Vickie Kahle
Tammy Kipen
Marlin & Kathy Klumpp
Melanie Kurdys
Ruth Nobel
Patrick Peterson
Stephanie Poortenga
Jeanne Smit
Ben and Hope Staal
John Tuinstra
Jacki VanHuis
Sandy Walker
Sign Up for MHF Insights to keep up on the latest in Michigan Health Policy
