SINGAPORE – A former healthcare worker has been sentenced to 15 months in jail for molesting a male patient while taking his blood pressure at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.
Danisha Nur Delisa Dewa, 36, was working as a basic care assistant at the hospital when he committed the offense. He was convicted after a trial.
How the Incident Unfolded
On Jan 27, 2023, the victim, whose identity is protected by a gag order, was at the hospital for shoulder surgery. He was seated in a recliner chair, dressed in a hospital gown, when Danisha approached him to check his vital signs.
Prosecutors said Danisha pulled the curtain around the chair, lifted the victim’s gown, and asked if he was wearing underwear. While taking his blood pressure, he touched the victim’s private parts three times and asked if he felt any pain.
At first, the victim thought this was part of the medical procedure. But after noticing that other nurses did not do the same, he became suspicious. He later checked with hospital staff and, realizing it was inappropriate, reported the incident.
Court Dismisses Danisha’s Defense
Danisha denied the allegations. He claimed he only took the patient’s vital signs and never touched him inappropriately. He also suggested that the victim falsely accused him out of homophobia, saying he was “a LGBTQ.”
The court rejected his defense, ruling that Danisha had deliberately hidden his actions by drawing the curtain and pretending it was a medical procedure.
Jail Sentence for Abuse of Trust
Prosecutors sought a jail term of 15 to 18 months, arguing that Danisha abused his position of trust.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ethan Lee said the victim found the incident “shocking” and “unexpected” and felt “ashamed to talk about it.”
Danisha left his job on June 23, 2023, after his employment contract ended.
For molestation, he could have faced up to three years in jail, a fine, caning, or a combination of these penalties.
