A 26-year-old student who came to St. Joseph Medical Center in Houston for treatment of possible bipolar disorder was eventually shocked with a Taser and shot in the chest and then then handcuffed by two off-duty Houston police officers, moonlighting as security guards, according to an article on The New York Times.
Patients seeking help at hospitals across the country have instead been injured or killed by those guarding the institutions, the article said.
Healthcare facilities are not required to report these incidents, so little data is available. Official reports have identified more than a dozen in recent years.
As more American hospitals are arming guards, healthcare officials are debating about whether such steps improve safety or endanger patients.
Strategies to Eradicate Biofilm Containing C. Auris
Man Attacks Nurses, Police Officer at Jefferson Hospital
Freeman Health System Breaks Ground on New Full-Service Hospital
All Eyes on Gen Z as They Enter the Workforce
Cleveland Clinic Starts Fundraising Effort for New Hospital in West Palm Beach