A Duke University Hospital nurse, Jomil Tugado, is facing serious criminal charges in three separate Durham County, North Carolina, cases. Court documents allege that he sexually assaulted incapacitated patients during medical treatment. Tugado was arrested by Duke University campus police on December 18 and made his first court appearance on December 19, 2025. He is being held without bond, and his next appearance in court is scheduled for January, 2026.
Jomil Tugado Sexual Assault Allegations & Criminal Charges
Prosecutors allege that Jomil Uy Tugado, 39, sexually abused three patients during medical treatment. Each case involved similar allegations and identical criminal charges.
- May 30, 2025: Prosecutors allege that while treating a patient, Tugado claimed sexual penetration was “necessary and would be beneficial” to the patient’s health and then induced the patient to engage in sexual acts while the patient was incapacitated.
- December 6, 2025: Prosecutors allege Tugado engaged in the same conduct with another patient during medical treatment while the patient was incapacitated.
- May 23, 2025: Court records filed on December 23, 2025, allege Tugado sexually assaulted a third patient while the patient was incapacitated during medical treatment.
In all three cases, Tugado is charged with felony sexual contact or penetration under the pretext of medical treatment, felony sex act by a government or private institution employee, and misdemeanor sexual battery.
Duke Health’s Response
According to ABC 11, Tugado began working for Duke Health in July 2023. The hospital provided a statement that said, in part, “Jomil Tugado was removed from patient care and placed on administrative leave on December 7, 2025.”
In a statement reported by local media, Duke Health said it is cooperating with law enforcement and that its “top priority is to maintain a safe environment for all patients to receive care.”
Nursing License Summarily Suspended
The North Carolina Board of Nursing took emergency action on December 18, 2025, issuing an Order for the Summary Suspension of Tugado’s registered nurse license.
In its order, the Board cited the first two criminal cases and found that the alleged conduct, directly related to Tugado’s nursing practice, posed a risk to public health, safety, and welfare.
The Board stated that Tugado “will be provided a Hearing before the Board at the next available scheduled Board meeting,” and that any disciplinary actions will be reported to national and federal oversight databases, as well as to other states where he is or has been licensed.
Potential Civil Responsibility of Duke University Hospital
Allegations that a hospital nurse assaulted patients, particularly while they were incapacitated, represent a profound abuse of authority, power, and trust.
While the criminal cases focus on the alleged actions of Jomil Tugado, civil law can examine whether an institution failed to protect patients in its care. In cases involving sexual abuse in medical settings, hospitals and healthcare systems may be held legally accountable if gaps in supervision, monitoring, or patient-safety policies allowed abuse to occur.
Removing an employee after allegations surface does not, by itself, resolve questions of accountability. Hospitals have a duty to safeguard all of their patients. Civil investigations may examine whether appropriate safeguards were in place, whether staff had unsupervised access to vulnerable patients, whether warning signs or complaints were overlooked, and whether institutional policies were adequately enforced.
Legal Options for North Carolina Medical Sexual Abuse Survivors
If you or someone you love were sexually assaulted by Jomil Tugado or another nurse during medical treatment, you are not alone. Many survivors of medical sexual abuse are left confused or questioning what happened, particularly when misconduct is misrepresented as legitimate medical care or occurs while a patient is incapacitated.
Our firm represents survivors of sexual abuse in cases involving nurses, hospitals, and healthcare systems. Our team also works with a victim advocate who can help survivors navigate next steps with care, compassion, and support.
Under North Carolina law, civil cases may allow survivors to pursue accountability even while criminal cases are pending. Civil claims can examine institutional failures and may provide compensation for the physical and emotional harm survivors endured.
Speaking with a trauma-informed attorney can help survivors understand their rights and determine whether they may have grounds for a civil case.
We offer free, confidential consultations to help survivors and their families understand their options and take the next steps toward healing and justice. There is no obligation to take legal action unless and until you are ready.
Contact us today
Image sources: Jomil Uy Tugado, courtesy of Durham County Sheriff’s Office, as published by CBS 17. Duke University Hospital, © Google, via Google Maps.
