Anthony Diaz is being charged for attacking Julian Cohen at a Florida hospital. Cohen’s family says they were informed late about the incident & demand answers.
CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — A 73-year-old man with dementia is recovering tonight after investigators say he was violently attacked by a hospital employee inside HCA Orange Park Hospital.
His family is demanding answers, including why they were notified so late.
Julian Cohen was admitted to HCA Orange Park Hospital on Nov. 13th, so doctors could run some tests related to his dementia.
However, after just one night, his sister, Dawn Leonard, tells First Coast News a regular visit turned into something they never expected.
“The nurse that was in charge of him at that time had come in the room and said, ‘I want to tell you I’m very sorry for what happened to your brother. I said, what do you mean? and she said, well, he has some fractured ribs. I said well what happened? Did he fall down last night or something? She said, ‘No, ma’am, he was attacked by a hospital employee,’” said Leonard.
Dawn Leonard said no one from the hospital notified her or Cohen’s son, Adam who is his caregiver about the incident.
“So you’re telling me that this happened almost seven hours ago and nobody called me. Nobody called his son, Adam, to let us know that my brother had been attacked,” said Leonard.
According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, 52-year old Anthony Diaz was arrested on Nov. 25th and charged with aggravated battery of an elderly person.
An arrest warrant obtained by First Coast News shows that police responded to the hospital on Nov. 14th. Hospital staff reported Cohen was injured during an altercation with Diaz, who was a patient transporter and was taking Cohen to imaging.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says Diaz intentionally struck Cohen several times in the face, pushed him into a wall and knocked him to the ground.
Cohen suffered fractured ribs and bruising on his wrist.
Reports show another hospital staff member was in the room and witnessed the assault.
“How could you do that to an elderly person that can’t even defend themselves,” she said.
Leonard says her brother is still recovering from his injuries and the family is now considering legal action.
“I was hurt for him because he went to the hospital to have some testing done and then ends up being attacked,” she said.
HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital released this statement to First Coast News:
“We do not tolerate behavior that jeopardizes the safety and well-being of our patients or colleagues, and the staff member involved in this incident is no longer employed by HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital.”
As Cohen’s family focuses on his recovery, they want to share their story so this doesn’t happen to another family
“Whether they’re in a hospital, a nursing home, please be more vigilant about who’s around and keep a better eye on them because they can’t really speak for themselves,” said Leonard.
Anthony Diaz is being held in the Clay County Jail with a $150,000 bond. He’s being charged with aggravated battery of an elderly person.
His next court appearance is December 16th.