Image sources: Mugshot of Kevin James Coolong via Chesapeake Police Department, circulated online. Background image of Sentara Leigh Hospital via Google Maps contributor photo.
Anesthesia is one of the most vulnerable aspects of any medical procedure, requiring patients to place complete trust in the professionals caring for them while they are unconscious.
But that trust was allegedly violated by Kevin Coolong, a nurse anesthetist in Norfolk, Virginia, who is accused of sexually abusing multiple sedated female patients under his care.
Coolong Permanently Surrenders His Nursing License
As of May 20, 2025, Kevin Coolong has permanently and voluntarily surrendered his nursing license through a Virginia Board of Nursing consent order. The board found that Coolong engaged in non-consensual sexual conduct with multiple patients. According to the board, Coolong violated professional standards by abusing patients, violating professional boundaries, and engaging in unprofessional conduct during medical care.
Coolong worked as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) for Atlantic Anesthesia from June 2008 until his resignation in August 2024. He provided anesthesia services at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Sentara Leigh Hospital through Atlantic Anesthesia, which is contracted to staff those facilities.
According to an attending anesthesiologist cited in the order, about two-thirds of Coolong’s cases were in obstetrics—a medical specialty focused on pregnancy and childbirth, where patients are often especially vulnerable due to sedation and physical exposure during labor and delivery.
A Pattern of Abuse and Ignored Warnings
The misconduct detailed in the consent order includes Coolong’s alleged inappropriate sexual contact with patients, including kissing a patient during a C-section.
In March 2024, Coolong was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan by Atlantic Anesthesia, which required him to take a professional boundaries course in August of 2024. During the course, he reportedly admitted to previous inappropriate touching of multiple patients.
He was ultimately dismissed from the course and “told he would be reported to his regulatory board.” The consent order states that “According to the Atlantic, it did not report Mr. Coolong’s referral to the professional boundaries course or his dismissal from the course to the Virginia Board of Nursing.” (Virginia Board of Nursing Consent Order)
Despite Mr. Coolong’s repeated red flags throughout the years, institutional responses appear to be disturbingly minimal:
- In 2017, after Coolong allegedly kissed a cesarean section patient on the lips, a risk manager merely “admonished” him. Alarmingly, he did not face consequences.
- In 2018, a separate patient’s concerns of being inappropriately touched were purportedly dismissed outright by a risk manager at Sentara Leigh Hospital, stating, “there does not appear to be any validation to your claims.” (Virginia Board of Nursing Consent Order)
- In that same 2018 incident, Coolong admitted “accidental” touching of the patient to his supervisor, who just told him to “do things differently” (Virginia Board of Nursing Consent Order). No further action was taken.
Atlantic Anesthesia Declines to Comment
When contacted by WAVY, Atlantic Anesthesia did not comment. Coolong himself referred all questions to the consent order and declined to discuss the matter further.
A Chilling Admission
The details of this case are deeply disturbing—not only because of the abuse itself, but because of Coolong’s own justifications. According to a report by a Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider cited in the consent order, Coolong “feels victimized” by the charges and blamed the women he abused, claiming they “asked for it by the way they looked and talked.” (Virginia Board of Nursing Consent Order)
This type of victim-blaming is a common tactic among perpetrators and a direct attempt to deflect responsibility for evil conduct. Coolong also confessed to his inability to control his sexual behaviors—a chilling admission that underscores the threat he posed to vulnerable patients.
Civil Options for Survivors of Medical Sexual Abuse
When sexual abuse happens during sedation or recovery, survivors may feel disoriented, confused, or unsure about how to process what occurred. That vulnerability is exactly what predators exploit. It’s also why institutions and employers must take every report seriously and act swiftly when warning signs emerge.
Even in the absence of criminal charges, survivors may be able to pursue civil legal action against institutions such as Atlantic Anesthesia that may have failed to prevent abuse or ignored red flags.
We Help Survivors
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent survivors of sexual abuse, including abuse that occurs in health care settings. If you or a loved one experienced inappropriate contact while under anesthesia or at a medical facility, we are here to listen and help you understand your legal rights.
📩 Email us at info@vca.law or fill out a form today for a confidential consultation.
