99-year-old woman sexually assaulted at hospital

GATINEAU, Que. – An employee at a Quebec hospital is facing criminal charges after a 99-year-old patient was sexually assaulted.

Yves Laplante has been charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation.

Laplante was fired from the Hull hospital in Gatineau last month, a few days after the allegations were reported.

A spokesman for the hospital says officials had to gather evidence before Laplante was let go.

Sylvain Dube says the hospital is taking the matter seriously.

A Gatineau police spokesman says the additional charge, sexual exploitation, was laid because the elderly patient depends on hospital employees.

Jean-Paul Lemay says the woman was unable to give her consent, nor was she able to understand exactly what was going on.