HUNTSVILLE, Alabama (WAFF) – The healthcare industry can be extremely stressful and the added risk of assault can make the burden even more heavy.
Local healthcare workers are calling for legislative changes to current laws regarding assault on nurses and other patient care professionals.
“Violence against nurses and other healthcare workers is becoming an increasing problem,” said Abby Houghton, president of the Alabama Nurse Association.
National Nurses United reported that 80% of healthcare workers experienced some form of assault from patients last year. Casey Martin is from DeKalb County, who travels to Huntsville every day for work. He is an ICU patient care technician. Martin said he had experienced the assault from a patient firsthand.
“The patient was experiencing a rapid onset of confusion, kicking me several times, pulling the other nurses' hair and punching the other nurses,” Martin said.
Abby Horton of the Alabama Nurse Association said assault on healthcare professionals has been a growing issue since the pandemic, with some hospitals responding with staff escalation training, but Martin says that that's not enough.
“It's a bit crazy, and my opinion is a bit pointless. At the end of the day, I don't want to hurt anyone, but at the same time I have to be careful of myself,” Martin said.
Martin said refreshing law could be the answer to helping to receive justice for affected nurses and patient care professionals. Alabama Law 13A-6-21 says someone is convicted of assaulting a healthcare worker, a felony.
Abby Horton with Asna said lawmakers could help change the law to protect health professionals.
“I think it's important to have a conversation about legislative issues. Certainly the support we can get is helpful,” Houghton said.
Martin, who wrote multiple letters to state legislators about his concerns, said unity was the best way to instill change.
“It's just expressing our views and saying I know I'm going to stand up to this, and it's not okay, I want to do something about it,” Martin said.
In response, Rep. Aderholt sent this statement to WAFF 48.
“Violence against healthcare workers is absolutely unacceptable. These men and women deserve to devote their lives to caring for others and work without fear of safety.
I firmly believe that anyone who commits violence against a healthcare worker should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Protecting people who care about us in a healthcare setting is merely common sense.
Although current laws need to be fully enforced, I also tend to support laws that strengthen laws that protect healthcare workers from violence, ensuring the necessary protections while providing services to the community. ”
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