Safety

State law aims to protect healthcare workers

Emergency Management Alert, April 23, 2007

Dealing with difficult, abusive, or even violent patients is an unfortunate part of the job for healthcare professionals working in the ED, but a relatively new state law in New Mexico has given more bite to the legal consequences for attacks on healthcare workers.

 

In Albuquerque, NM hospitals this April alone, reports The Albuquerque Tribune, healthcare workers had to deal with:

  • A patient with Hepatitis C and HIV who spit in an employee's eye
  • A patient who punched a worker in the arm during treatment
  • An intoxicated patient who pulled a paramedic to the ground by her hair
  • A discharged emergency room patient who threatened staff and security personnel with a pencil

 

The relatively new law was enacted in July of last year and gives law enforcement the leverage to charge attackers with felony battery rather than a misdemeanor charge, the Tribune reports. The law, though still used sparingly, is intended to offer harsher penalties for such attacks, but also to make healthcare workers feel better protected in those circumstances, hospital personnel told the Tribune.

    Hospital Safety Center

  • Hospital Safety Center

    Improve compliance with hospital safety standards from The Joint Commission, OSHA, and other regulators with this...

  • Healthcare Life Safety Compliance

    Learn Life Safety Code tips and interpretations for healthcare facilities with this in-depth monthly resource.

  • Hospital Safety Connection

    Stay on top of hospital safety requirements and best practices with our free, fast-paced weekly update.

  • Administering Your OSHA Program

    This course will help an employee new to the role of OSHA safety officer. It gives an overview of OSHA requirements and...

  • Medical OSHA Manual Combo

    Get into compliance with Quality America's OSHA Safety Program Manual and stay in compliance with OSHA Watch Newsletter...

Most Popular

Related Articles