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Nurse Accused Of Drugging, Sexually Assaulting Patient

FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – A nurse accused of sexually battering a patient made his first appearance before a judge on Thursday.

David Paul Lazarus, 42, is charged with two counts of sexual battery. The judge denied bond because of a previous arrest.

Lazarus, a nurse at Broward Health Medical Center, reportedly gave a woman morphine and oxycodone after she came out surgery for a kidney stone. "It appears the allegation is that the defendant was overmedicating her to the point she became impaired by the medication," said Judge John Hurley,  "and in an altered state she was more vulnerable and that is when he allegedly took advantage of her."  Investigators said Lazarus, who was not the woman's nurse, overmedicated her before having sex with her.

The woman reported the assault to the police.

Lazarus was arrested when he showed up at the woman's home to drop off more drugs, according to his arrest report.

Lazarus' wife Lebanon David was stunned by the allegations.  "He would not do that," she said, "I'm a hundred percent sure of it, he will not do that."

Broward Health released a statement saying, "We were informed this morning of a patient allegation against an employee. We have responded by initiating a thorough review of the allegation but are unable to comment at this time."

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