John Tam, Former Nurse at Boston Children’s Hospital, Accused of Sexually Assaulting Teenage Boys After Surgery
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS (July 25, 2026) – A former nurse at Boston Children’s Hospital identified as John Tam has been indicted on multiple charges related to sexually assaulting two teenage boys that he was caring for.
Suffolk County prosecutors are saying that the alleged incidents occurred in 2022 and 2025. In the first incident, John Tam was caring for a 15-year-old boy who underwent chest surgery.
The child said that when he woke up, the defendant was inappropriately touching his genitals. In the second incident, the defendant allegedly sexually assaulted another patient after leading him into a single-stall bathroom.
John Tam was arraigned on Friday, July 24. He is facing four counts of an assault and battery on a person that is over the age of 14 and an additional four counts of indecent assault and battery by a healthcare practitioner.
Authorities are encouraging anyone whose child was a former patient of John Tam to come forward if they suspect abuse took place.
Liability for Sexual Assault Involving Boston Healthcare Providers
Hospitals have an obligation to properly supervise all of the patients in their care. They must protect them from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This includes protecting patients from sexual abuse and other forms of criminal activity. Legal claims against hospitals for sexual abuse will typically advance on the theory that the perpetrator was negligently hired or retained. There are several elements that must be demonstrated in such a claim.
- Employee Relationship: The perpetrator who caused harm was hired or retained by the defendant.
- Unfit Nature: The perpetrator was unfit or dangerous for the position they were fulfilling.
- Knowledge: The employer knew or should have known that the perpetrator was unfit prior to the incident. There may have been warning signs before hiring. An employer may have learned of the danger after hiring and nonetheless failed to investigate or otherwise intervene.
- Cause: The unfit nature of the perpetrator was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury.
By the time any nurse or doctor is arrested for sexual abuse, there were likely many red flags that were missed. This can include situations where hospitals received warnings about a dangerous worker, but nonetheless failed to act. A major part of the problem is that many hospitals do not investigate complaints of misconduct that they receive. This often leads to sexual abuse going unchecked for lengthy periods.
How Hospitals Can Prevent Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse involving healthcare workers is unfortunately much more common than many people realize. According to Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, “A 2023 study on sexual violence in healthcare settings found: 8.96% of patients reported experiencing sexual violence perpetrated by a healthcare professional. o Vulnerable populations (including individuals with cognitive disabilities and mental illnesses) were at an increased risk of experiencing sexual misconduct in medical settings.” Hospitals should take a number of different actions to prevent sexual abuse.
- Background Checks: Hospitals should ensure that all of their employees and volunteers undergo rigorous background checks.
- Understanding: Hospitals should do their best to understand what factors likely contribute to sexual victimization and predation.
- Vulnerable Patients: Hospitals should ensure that their patients are properly monitored, especially if those patients are minors or otherwise vulnerable.
- Reporting: Hospitals should have several avenues where misconduct can be reported. More minor offenses are often precursors to more serious incidents.
Sexual abuse is often one of the most harmful and destructive experiences that most people will go through in their lives. It can be particularly traumatic for children. This is why it is so important that hospitals do their absolute best to safeguard the well-being of their patients. Anytime a patient is unconscious or recovering from surgery, they are in a vulnerable state. Certain protections should be afforded to them. The family of a child sexually abused by a healthcare provider may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.
Getting Legal Help After Sexual Abuse in Boston Hospitals
We at DiBella Law extend our best wishes to all of the people who have been affected by the actions of John Tam. There needs to be a thorough investigation into the potential scope of the misconduct. It is deeply concerning that someone who is around children and vulnerable patients all day was allegedly involved in such heinous crimes.
Have you or a loved one been sexually abused by a healthcare provider in Massachusetts? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of Boston personal injury attorneys is here for you. We care deeply that abuse victims get the justice and support that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (855) 649-2674.