– At around nine o’clock, there was such a dangerous incident in which this agitated, aggressive patient attacked the medical staff. Nine emergency department employees were assaulted: paramedics, nurses, a doctor and a security guard. The whole matter ended with the man’s aggression being brought under control. Fortunately, there were no major injuries that would have posed a threat to the staff’s lives. We conducted a psychiatric examination of the patient and referred him for further treatment at the Regional Psychiatric Hospital in Złotoryja, where he was transported with police assistance and remained for further treatment – says Nikolaj Lambrinow, head of the Emergency Department in Legnica.
– He was a patient under the influence of intoxicants, by which I mean narcotic substances – the doctor adds. – We can talk about the scale of preparation and the extent to which this type of threat can be anticipated. It is an entirely different situation when we know that a patient is aggressive because he was brought in that way. However, there are situations when people who appear completely calm and behave rationally suddenly, for some reason, stop behaving that way and become aggressive.
Let us explain that hospital staff knew the patient had displayed aggression before being transported to the emergency department. However, some of the procedures that had to be performed on him meant that he could not be physically restrained in any way. – It was during such a procedure, when he was briefly released, that he attacked. However, after the entire incident, I must add, the patient was completely calm and his treatment continued without any such incidents – explains Dr Lambrinow.
As the head of the Emergency Department relates, the patient attacked with his hands and was not armed. People in this condition, especially after taking narcotic substances, behave completely irrationally and are also very difficult to restrain. First, there is no rationality; second, such people are seemingly completely deprived of normal feelings such as those we have, for example, pain. Even an attempt to hold them, which may cause pain, produces no reaction.
– Security operates and has operated in the emergency department in Legnica. However, these men cannot be everywhere. As I always say, these are unpredictable events. The other indisputable point is that this aggressive man should face consequences for his actions. This is probably the only way to influence potential aggressors in some way. Not everyone, but some people are aware of what they are doing. The monitoring system was working and the footage has been secured. It will clearly show how this incident occurred and what happened there – adds Nikolaj Lambrinow.
The doctor assures that the incident was not the result of provocation by the staff. Although emergency department employees are trained to deal with difficult situations, many of them are women of various ages, so self-defence techniques are not always a realistic solution. The most important thing, in the medic’s view, is the strict enforcement of the law and extending legal protection for healthcare workers beyond working hours as well. There have been situations in which patients’ aggression carried over into staff members’ free time, when they do not have the status of public officials.
– Aggression against medical staff is increasing, often in the form of threats. Although most threats do not turn into physical violence, such situations should be taken seriously by law enforcement authorities, which is not always the case. Systemic solutions are needed to ensure the safety of medical workers not only at work but also outside it – adds the head of the Emergency Department in Legnica.
Today, the hospital published a statement. The management assured the injured employees of full medical, psychological and legal support. Director Maciej Leszkowicz met with police representatives, who pledged to increase the facility’s security. The hospital will seek severe punishment for the perpetrator and will join the proceedings as an auxiliary prosecutor.