Most people are appreciative of the help they receive from healthcare workers. Then there are patients who abuse and harm patients to the point where they nearly kill them.
A Florida nurse was critically injured after she was brutally attacked by a patient. The nurse broke almost every bone in her face and could potentially lose the use of both eyes.
The incident happened on the afternoon of February 18 at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital in Palm Beach County. The patient, a 33-year-old man, was at the hospital under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows those with mental health issues who meet certain criteria to be hospitalized in crisis situations.
The nurse was in the man’s room, located on the third floor, when the man suddenly jumped on his bed. He then jumped onto the nurse and attacked her.
Someone in the room witnessed the attack. They ran out of the room and called for help. When help arrived, another witness saw the nurse was lying on the floor. The man was repeatedly hitting the nurse in the face with his fists. The witness yelled at the man to stop and he ran out of the room.
The man fled across the hospital floor, down a stairwell, and across the parking lot. He was then seen walking in traffic on Southern Boulevard. People saw the man walking shirtless on Southern Boulevard with what looked to be ECG leads attached to his chest.
Palm Beach County deputies responded and took the man into custody. The nurse suffered critical injuries. She was airlifted to St. Mary’s Medical Center due to the severity of her injuries. She is likely to lose the use of both eyes. Due to the victim’s injuries, she was unable to provide a statement. A third witness said that the man has been acting paranoid for the last two days.
A rally was held to support the injured nurse. Palm Beach County hospital health care workers and their families came together less than a week later to spotlight the urgent need for better workplace safety. Hundreds of people came together, including the victim’s family. They voiced their heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming support while the nurse remains hospitalized.
The 67-year-old nurse is currently at a rehabilitation facility in Jacksonville. She currently has vision in one eye. She underwent surgery on the right side of her face. Her jaw is wired shut, and she is being fed through a syringe on the side of her mouth.
The suspect in the attack faces charges of attempted second-degree murder, with a hate crime enhancement. He is currently in jail in Palm Beach County. His attorneys have hired a forensic psychologist to conduct an independent evaluation of the man’s mental health.
What is the Baker Act?
The Baker Act, formally known as the Florida Mental Health Act, allows for the involuntary examination and treatment of individuals with mental illness who are deemed a threat to themselves or others, or who are unable to care for themselves.
The Baker Act focuses on crisis services for people with mental illness, similar to an emergency department for a medical emergency. It allows for the involuntary examination and treatment of individuals who meet specific criteria, including a reason to believe they have a mental illness and are unable to care for themselves or pose a threat to themselves or others.
While HCA Florida Palms West Hospital is not a Baker Act receiving facility, the arrest report states that the man was an admitted patient on the third floor of the hospital. If a patient arrives at a hospital that is not a Baker Act receiving facility, healthcare professionals at that facility can decide to initiate the Baker Act process for a patient. That’s what happened in this case.
The man had driven himself to the hospital to seek treatment for a physical issue, but not a mental one. The hospital admitted him but would not say why due to patient privacy laws.
Once the man was evaluated, the provider decided to initiate the Baker Act process. But the man needed to be treated for his medical issue first before he could be transferred to a mental health facility.
Contact Us Today
Nobody should have to worry about suffering injuries in the workplace. Healthcare workers should especially not have to be concerned about getting attacked by patients — the people they are there to help.
If you have been injured in the workplace, seek legal help from the Florida lawyers at Brill & Rinaldi, The Law Firm today. We have the experience you need and will work hard to obtain the maximum compensation available to you. We can answer your questions about the workers’ compensation system and the help that is available to you. To schedule a consultation, fill out the online form or call (954) 876-4344. We have offices in Weston, Coral Gables, and Daytona Beach.