A female patient with a severe brain injury was allegedly raped in a New York City hospital, police have said.

A nurse doing her rounds walked in to check on the stricken woman to discover Keith Nembhard sexually assaulting the 32-year-old, earlier this month according to police.

The 37-year-old attacker, who allegedly knew the victim, was arrested and charged with rape in the second degree.

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A female patient with a severe brain injury was raped in a New York City hospital, police have said. A nurse discovered Keith Nembhard, 37, raping his 32-year-old victim while doing her rounds

Police were told by doctors that the severity of her injuries meant there was no way she could have consented to sexual intercourse.

It is the second serious incident at the hospital this year.

In June a disgruntled former doctor killed one and injured six former co-workers at the Bronx-Lebanon hospital.

Dr Henry Bello, a family physician, opened fire at the Bronx Lebanon Hospital where he used to work at about 2.45pm on Friday June 30.

The 45-year-old gunman was hiding a high-powered assault rifle under his white medical coat and had his ID card on him when he started the shooting spree on the 16th and 17th floors of the hospital, police sources say.

Police Commissioner James O'Neill confirmed that the shooter died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the building.

Dead attacker: Dr Henry Bello, 45, has been named as the deceased gunman who carried out a deadly attack at his former place of work, the Bronx Lebanon Hospital, in June

The shooter had tried to set himself on fire prior to fatally shooting himself. He staggered, bleeding, into a hallway where he collapsed and died with the rifle at his side.

The body of the female victim, believed to be a doctor, was found next to the shooter on the 17th floor. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Five of the victims were seriously injured in the shooting rampage and one victim is being treated for a gunshot wound to their leg.