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Ga. nurse anesthetist accused of abusing patients

2009-11-26 10:15:50

By GREG BLUESTEIN, Associated Press Writer Greg Bluestein, Associated Press

Writer Wed Nov 25, 11:31 pm ET

ATLANTA A metro Atlanta nurse anesthetist has been charged with molesting and

sodomizing anesthetized patients in dental and medical offices, and police say

the videotaped abuses could involve 100 or more victims.

Paul Patrick Serdula, 47, who worked in dental and medical offices across metro

Atlanta, was arrested Monday night on child molestation and sodomy charges. The

arrest came after authorities found several videos showing him fondling and

groping patients who were under anesthesia at various offices, said Cobb County

police officer Joe Hernandez.

And authorities reviewing the videos to find more victims say the assaults

could go back years and involve residents of other states who were treated by

Serdula while they were in Georgia.

"The magnitude of this is almost surreal," said Cobb County Police Sgt. Dana

Pierce.

Serdula, who is being held at the Cobb County Jail without bond, was first

arrested Nov. 18 on three counts of unlawful surveillance after a woman found a

tiny camera hidden in a bathroom stall at a Cobb County dental office. He was

charged with unlawful surveillance and eavesdropping and released on bond.

He was re-arrested at about 10 p.m. Monday and charged with aggravated child

molestation, aggravated sodomy and aggravated sexual battery, among other

counts, said Hernandez. At least one victim was a juvenile, he said. Hernandez

would not disclose the gender of the juvenile or the other victims.

Police said Serdula has an attorney, but they could not immediately provide the

attorney's name.

Serdula, whose license was suspended after his arrest, first registered as a

nurse in Georgia in 1997. Authorities said he was not working exclusively for

any one physician but instead was a contractor hired by medical providers on a

temporary basis. They said that gave him access to offices across the metro

Atlanta area.

Pierce said detectives have talked to several patients who believe they are

victims, and investigators are now searching the videos for more clues and more

victims.

"This case is absolutely far from over," he said.

But the investigation poses a unique challenge for detectives, as many of the

potential victims don't know they were targeted because they were under

anesthesia.

Police are encouraging anyone worried about whether they might be a victim to

contact their medical provider to see if they had ever hired Serdula. If so,

said Hernandez, they should immediately contact the Cobb County Police.

Police said they do not believe victims were at risk of contracting a sexually

transmitted disease as a result of the incidents. Hernandez said none of

Serdula's actions "would require STD tests at this time."