A former Boston Children’s Hospital nurse is facing a slate of sex-assault charges after prosecutors say he attacked two teenage patients who were supposed to be recovering from surgery under his care.
John Tam, 33, of Hopedale, has been indicted on eight criminal counts tied to alleged incidents in 2022 and 2025, all involving teen boys coming out of surgery. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Suffolk Superior Court.
Earlier this month, a Suffolk County grand jury indicted Tam on four counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 years or older and four counts of indecent assault and battery on a patient by a health care provider. Prosecutors say the indictment covers alleged conduct at Boston Children’s Hospital during Tam’s time on staff, as well as at prior workplaces. The charges and arraignment details were provided by the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office, as reported by NBC Boston.
How state law treats assaults by medical staff
Massachusetts has a specific statute for indecent assault and battery by a health care provider, reflecting how vulnerable patients can be during exams, procedures and recovery. The law allows penalties of up to five years in state prison or up to 2½ years in a house of correction for such offenses.
Under Massachusetts General Laws, consent can be treated as invalid if it is obtained through a false claim that the touching is for legitimate medical purposes. In other words, if a patient thinks something is medically necessary when it is not, the law does not treat that as true consent.
What prosecutors allege
According to prosecutors, the first alleged assault took place on Sept. 19, 2022. A 15-year-old boy who had undergone chest surgery allegedly woke up to find a nurse touching his genitals inappropriately.
The second case, dated Jan. 2, 2025, involves another teen who had just come out from under anesthesia. Prosecutors say Tam dressed the patient, wheeled him to a single-stall bathroom and sexually assaulted him for about eight minutes. During that time, Tam allegedly offered to show the teen pornography on his phone before eventually wheeling him out to his mother’s car.
Investigators reviewed security video that prosecutors say shows Tam wheeling the patient into the restroom and leaving several minutes later. Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden has said his office is “concerned that these may not be isolated incidents” and is urging parents whose children were treated at Boston Children’s Hospital or at Tam’s prior workplaces to contact investigators. As reported by NBC Boston, the investigation remains active and authorities are still gathering evidence.
Support and next steps for families
Anyone with concerns about a possible encounter involving Tam is urged to contact local law enforcement or the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County, which offers confidential support and can help connect families to medical, legal and counseling resources.
Survivors and family members can also reach out to the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center’s 24/7 hotline at 800-841-8371 for advocacy and counseling.
Prosecutors emphasize that an indictment is a formal accusation, not proof of guilt, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
