Currently, in Massachusetts, police cannot arrest assault perpetrators in the healthcare field if they do not personally witness the assault. This allows perpetrators to remain in the hospital, ER, clinic etc even after they have assaulted staff. I am starting this petition to ask lawmakers to mandate persons who assault healthcare workers to be arrested and removed from the premises.
Why is this important?
I work in a community hospital ER in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, assault by patients to staff is a not uncommon occurrence. I have been assaulted by patients several times and have seen worse assaults on coworkers. In all instances, police were called and no one was arrested because police did not personally witness the assault, per MA law. On Thursday, this happened again. My coworker was beaten so badly that she had to go home with a walker. The only reason the perp was arrested was because my coworker was over 60. I am happy that the perp was arrested, but this should be the rule and not the exception. I should not be afraid to go to work. Please sign this petition to stop healthcare worker abuse.
