Florida nurse loses unborn baby after attack by patient in hospital

LONGWOOD, Fla. — A Florida man is accused of attacking a pregnant nurse at a Florida hospital on Saturday, causing the death of her unborn child, authorities said.

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Joseph Lynn Wuertz, 53, of Casselberry, was charged with aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, aggravated battery of a medical worker and manslaughter in the killing of an unborn child, according to Seminole County online booking records.

According to an arrest report, the nurse, who was 32 weeks pregnant, was assisting a patient at South Seminole Hospital, when Wuertz, who was also a patient at the hospital, attacked her, WFTV reported.

Police said Wuertz entered the room, shoved the nurse against a wall and tried to kick her before he was restrained by hospital personnel, the television station reported.

The nurse was taken to Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando, where she was told that she had lost her baby, according to WFTV.

Wuertz was arrested by the Longwood Police Department after he was released from South Seminole Hospital, the television station reported. He is being held on $90,000 bail, according to online booking records.

Wuertz is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 11, 2022, online records show.

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