Des Moines man says hospital employee sexually exploited him

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A Des Moines man has filed a lawsuit against a local hospital after he says an employee sexually exploited him.

In the lawsuit, Bruce Decker claims Kristen Ringland, his former counseling care coordinator at Broadlawns Medical Center, initiated a sexual relationship with him during a routine home visit in February 2014. Decker says he reported the relationship to hospital officials after it ended, but that they did nothing in response.

Ringland tells KCCI-TV (https://bit.ly/1CIvZrk ) that she never had a sexual relationship with Decker.

Hospital attorneys say they are aware of the lawsuit, but that they won’t comment on pending litigation. Officials say Ringland hasn’t worked at the hospital since April.

Decker says he’s received counseling at the hospital for severe anxiety and depression over the past 15 years.

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Information from: The Des Moines Register, https://www.desmoinesregister.com