EXCLUSIVE: Hospital Employee Accused Of Groping Patients Speaks Out

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- William Butler, 32, had no idea a warrant was out for his arrest until KDKA's Amy Wadas showed up at his house in West Mifflin Thursday afternoon.

He said he takes his job very seriously and would have never touched patients inappropriately at UPMC Mercy Hospital.

Butler said he only worked at Mercy Hospital for a few months before he was fired.

"They said I fit a description of someone who was doing those things," Butler said.

The criminal complaint claims Butler went into the rooms of seven female patients between June 28 and July 5 of this year. He is accused of touching their vagina or breasts, then he would leave after each patient made known that they were uncomfortable.

He used the excuse that he needed to check the "leads" of their heart monitor, and also told the victims he needed to check if they wet the bed. Butler says this never happened.

KDKA's Amy Wadas: "So you didn't touch any women on their breasts or private area?"

Butler: "I mean, not that I know of."

KDKA's Amy Wadas: "What do you mean not that you know of? You either did or you didn't."

Butler: "Not inappropriately."

The complaint says Butler worked as a patient sitter during all the alleged incidents.

According to Butler's job description, he was limited and restricted to his involvement with patient care. Butler says an investigator questioned him after the accusations.

"He did say there were two other people that fit my description and why I went in. I didn't go to court. I wasn't arrested," Butler said. "As a patient care attendant, you're there to help patients. I worked at a VA hospital since 2011 and I worked in both facilities. I've been in healthcare for so long."

UPMC Senior Vice President Leslie David issued this statement:

"We are deeply committed to protecting our patients, who entrust their health and safety to us every day. The behavior reported in this case is abhorrent and violates both the mission of Mercy and the overall values of UPMC. This is unacceptable in society let alone in any of our hospitals. Once we learned of these allegations, we immediately began a thorough investigation in full cooperation with law enforcement. As a result of that investigation, this individual was terminated.

We will continue to do everything we can to support the efforts of law enforcement leading to prosecution, and have established our own task force to implement additional measures to further protect our patients at all UPMC locations."

The complaint says all these victims during the times of these assaults were medically continent and didn't need help when it came to cleaning themselves.

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