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Prosecutors Thursday charged a medical worker at Primary Children's Medical Center with abusing a child.
The alleged abuse happened Oct. 9 when the man, 22, molested an 11-year-old patient, court documents state. The boy thought the man was there to do a checkup, the documents add, but instead he lifted the boy's medical gown and molested him.
The man faces one count of sodomy on a child and one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, both first-degree felonies. Court records show he does not have a criminal history.
Prosecutors working on the case could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday night.
A statement issued Thursday by a hospital representative described staff members as "devastated" to learn of the allegations. The man was immediately suspended, then terminated, the statement adds. He was later arrested, the statement says.
According to the statement, the man had worked at the hospital since September 2011. He began as a volunteer before eventually being hired as an employee.
"The idea that one of our own employees would harm a patient violates every principle of this hospital, its physicians and staff members, who have devoted their lives to caring for children," the statement adds.
"We have expressed our profound regrets and apologies to the family. We continue to offer them Primary Children's support and services. We are deeply grateful for the courage of those who reported this to us and for the immediate response of law enforcement with whom we are working closely."
Jim Dalrymple II