Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center
Photo: Shaul Golan
Patient assaults nurse, throwing computer screen at her
In the latest incident of violence against medical staff, patient in his 50s arrested after threatening, cursing and trying to hurt a nurse at the Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center.
A patient in his 50s assaulted a nurse at the emergency room of the Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center on Monday. He swore at her, threatened her and threw a computer screen at her.
He was arrested by hospital security and taken for police questioning.
"The Medical Center's administration will show zero tolerance towards threats and violence against its employees," said director Dr. Benny Davidson following the incident. "I call on law enforcement and legislators to take a firm stance to combat any kind of violence against medical personnel."
The Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center (Photo: Shaul Golan)
A police officer was recently stationed at Assaf HaRofeh as part of a Health Ministry pilot in an effort to increase security at hospitals.
Monday's incident follows the murder of HMO nurse Tovah Kararo, who was burned to death by a disgruntled patient two weeks ago.
These attacks are far from being isolated incidents. Doctors, nurses, social workers and teachers suffer daily attacks, both physical and verbal. Every year, approximately 3,000 violent incidents against public servants, particularly in the healthcare system, are reported.
Six months ago, an Arab physician treated an IDF soldier in the orthopedic emergency room at Assaf Harofeh. About an hour after treatment, the soldier's father arrived, went into the doctor's office and began cursing him, using racial slurs. The father had also apparently used physical violence.
A few months earlier, a family destroyed hospital property following the death of a loved one, also at Assaf Harofeh.
Following Kararo's murder, public servants—in healthcare, in schools, among social workers and in public transport—went on strike.
