A man wielding a knife threatened a worker in the emergency room of Baylor Scott and White’s downtown hospital, Monday according to sources and confirmed by the hospital.
The incident happened as the emergency room was handling routine cases on Halloween night.
“On Monday night, Baylor Scott and White Police responded to an isolated incident that involved an individual with a pocketknife. Thanks to the swift action taken by our public safety team, the individual is now in custody. The safety of everyone on our campus is a top priority.” he hospital said in a written statement.
The name of the individual and the charge that was filed have not been made available. It was not clear what caused the man to hold the employee at knifepoint.
The assault on a hospital worker happened less than two weeks after two workers at Methodist Dallas Medical Center were gunned down in the maternity ward. The attacks appear to be part of a nationwide increase in violence directed toward medical workers in recent months, according to the Texas Nurses Association.
“When COVID first started, nurses and other healthcare professionals were heroes. And I think as we ended up having a vaccine become available and have as an option there were a lot of politics around that,” said TNA president Joyce Batcheller. “Some people think that it was something it was obviously say no to. And it just polarized people and it seems like it’s brought out more differences, unfortunately. And the attitude toward healthcare professionals changed.”
She says some hospitals have even warned employees to change out of scrubs when they went home so they would not be targeted.
In the case of Nestor Hernandez, 30 Dallas, a convicted felon was able to get his hands on a gun and take it into Methodist hospital on Oct. 22. Hernandez was on parole at the time and had a history of cutting off his ankle monitor. Yet the Dallas Police chief says Hernandez got permission from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to go into the hospital. The hospital staff was never warned. An investigation into how Hernandez got his hands on a gun is ongoing.
Batcheller says it may be time to have a serious discussion about metal detectors at hospital entrances.
“There are some organizations that do have metal detectors. They try to do it, particularly around the emergency department. There’s a lot of doors to cover when people are coming in. It’s one of the things that people have brought up.” Batcheller said.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD