Stabbing of Physician Leads to Lawsuit

Doctor’s lawyers say no one on staff alerted hospital security or seemed to know how to respond to incident

By Dan Hounsell


Physicians, nurses and hospital support staff face threats to their health every workday, but the threats usually come from illnesses brought in by patients. But as attacks on healthcare workers increase, it’s becoming clear that workplace violence poses just as great a threat to their safety.

A doctor who was repeatedly stabbed by a patient at Pennsylvania Hospital this year has sued the facility and its parent organization, accusing both of failing to take steps that could have prevented the attack and adopting an “abject disregard” for the safety of employees, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The complaint names the hospital and Penn Medicine among its defendants and offers a harrowing account of the Feb. 23 assault by a psychiatric patient, who repeatedly stabbed his victim in the head and face using a knife taken from a lunch tray.

According to the suit, the doctor managed to push the student out of the room before the student grabbed her by the hair, yanked her backward, punched her, and began slamming her head on the floor and stabbing her in the face, neck, and arms with the dinner knife and a pen — while 10 to 15 of her colleagues looked on from a nursing station just outside the door.

The doctor’s lawyers said no one on staff alerted hospital security or seemed to know how to respond to a violent incident. No guards were stationed on the floor, and there were no panic buttons in or just outside the suspect’s room.



June 21, 2021


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

States Move Forward to Better Protect Senior Citizens

Senior citizens are among the most vulnerable population and require a certain level of care. States are trying to protect them.


Archer and REDA to Transform Newport Beach Building into Outpatient Center

Groundbreaking on the Newport Irvine Medical Center is scheduled for June 2025.


Sunflower Medical Group Facing Lawsuit Following January Data Breach

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, damages, expanded credit monitoring services and security improvements at Sunflower Medical Group.


Nemours Children's Health Opens New Location in Lake Nona

The nearly 8,000-square-foot facility will increase access to primary and specialty care services.


Enhancing Safety at Hennepin Healthcare with a Screening System

Case study: The system was able to detect 2,500 risk items in less than five months.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.