'He Was Supposed to Protect Her': Teen's Alleged Rape by Fil-Am Health Worker Sparks Fears Over Patient Safety in Hospitals

A Filipino-American mental-health worker has been charged with raping a teenage patient inside one of Maryland's most prominent psychiatric hospitals, in a case that has prompted outrage and renewed demands for stronger protections for vulnerable patients.

Police say 35-year-old Michael Cabanalan, a former employee of Sheppard Pratt Hospital in Towson, assaulted the 17-year-old girl while she was admitted for psychiatric treatment and under his professional supervision.

The accusations have sent shockwaves through the hospital community and surrounding area, placing increased scrutiny on staff oversight policies within psychiatric facilities.

Cabanalan was arrested by detectives from the Baltimore County Police Department's Crimes Against Children Unit and charged with second-degree rape and additional sexual offences. He is currently being held without bond at the Baltimore County Detention Centre.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the department confirmed the charges and urged anyone with additional information or potential connections to the suspect to come forward.

'Detectives from the Baltimore County Police Department's Crimes Against Children Unit arrested 35-year-old Michael Cabanalan with second-degree rape and other sex offences, which stemmed from alleged incidents that occurred while the victim was being treated at Sheppard Pratt,' police said.
'If anyone has additional information or believes that they may be a victim of Cabanalan, please contact the Police Department at 410-887-7720 or DSS at 410-887-8463.'

'He Was Supposed to Protect Her'

Investigators believe the assault occurred while the teenager was hospitalised for mental-health care. Court documents allege that staff noticed Cabanalan "regularly entering the victim's room" without clear professional justification and engaging in behaviour deemed inappropriate.

Detectives subsequently obtained surveillance footage as well as text message evidence that corroborated the patient's claims and supported the criminal charges, according to law-enforcement sources.

Sheppard Pratt Hospital confirmed that Cabanalan was terminated immediately after the allegations surfaced and that the institution fully cooperated with police and regulatory authorities.

Hospital administrators said they promptly reported the situation to law enforcement and relevant state oversight agencies as part of mandatory safeguarding protocols.

Hospital Under Scrutiny

The arrest has reignited longstanding concerns about how psychiatric hospitals monitor staff who have direct and often unsupervised access to patients, particularly minors and those deemed vulnerable.

Patient advocacy organisations say the case exposes persistent gaps in oversight, supervision and monitoring that may leave patients exposed to potential abuse.

'Families trust hospitals to keep their loved ones safe,' said one Baltimore patient-rights campaigner.
'When that trust is broken, it shakes the entire system.'

In response to the growing backlash, Sheppard Pratt said it has launched a full internal safety review, examining protocols regarding staff-patient interactions, supervision policies, and monitoring systems to reinforce patient protection measures.

Community Outrage and Calls for Reform

News of the arrest has triggered widespread anger across Maryland's mental-health advocacy networks, with campaigners pushing for swift systemic changes.

Demands include independent external audits, strengthened background screening for healthcare workers, additional onsite supervisors, and expanded surveillance coverage in patient corridors and communal areas while maintaining privacy safeguards.

'This is not just about one person,' said another advocate.
'It's about the system that allowed this to happen.'

Community leaders and patient-protection groups say survivors of institutional abuse often fear coming forward due to stigma and vulnerability, underscoring the need for stronger reporting pathways and immediate investigative responses.

Rebuilding Trust in Mental-Health Care

As the investigation continues, the case has cast a harsh spotlight on how psychiatric facilities nationwide protect those most at risk.

For patients and their families, the charges are a chilling reminder that safety inside medical institutions cannot be assumed, particularly for adolescents undergoing mental-health treatment.

Advocates say restoring public trust will require greater transparency, independent oversight, and firm accountability from healthcare institutions managing vulnerable populations.

Baltimore County Police continue to encourage anyone with additional information relating to Michael Cabanalan or similar incidents to contact authorities as the criminal case proceeds.