A 42-year-old Belgian nurse was arrested by the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) on suspicion of sexually assaulting an anaesthetised patient at the Beatriz Ângelo Hospital in Loures. The Nursing Association (Ordem dos Enfermeiros) has requested the suspect's identification from the Public Prosecutor's Office to initiate disciplinary proceedings.
Nurse arrested for sexual assault at Loures hospital
Context & Explainers
The Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária) is Portugal’s national criminal investigation force that handles serious crimes such as homicide, organised crime, corruption and major fraud. It conducts criminal inquiries alongside prosecutors, so if you are involved in or affected by a serious criminal case in Portugal the PJ leads investigative work and consular assistance may be helpful.
The Ordem dos Enfermeiros (Order of Nurses) is Portugal’s statutory professional body that registers and regulates nurses, sets professional standards, and handles discipline and professional conduct. Its warning about hiring limits matters because the Ordem represents the nursing workforce—restrictions on recruitment can worsen staff shortages and affect patient care, so expat nurses must be registered with the Ordem to practise and may be directly affected by any new hiring rules.
Sources (4)
- IGAS launches inspection into doctor suspected of disability pension schemeDiário de Notícias · 10:10pm, 10 Apr 2026
- Belgian nurse arrested for raping anaesthetised patient at Loures HospitalCorreio da Manhã · 1:30am, 11 Apr 2026
- IGAS opens inspection into doctor who approved disability pensionsObservador · 12:15am, 11 Apr 2026
- Nursing Association to request identification of nurse arrested on suspicion of sexual assault from Public ProsecutorRTP Notícias · 6:10pm, 10 Apr 2026




