A 26-year-old student who came to St. Joseph Medical Center in Houston for treatment of possible bipolar disorder was eventually shocked with a Taser and shot in the chest and then then handcuffed by two off-duty Houston police officers, moonlighting as security guards, according to an article on The New York Times.
Patients seeking help at hospitals across the country have instead been injured or killed by those guarding the institutions, the article said.
Healthcare facilities are not required to report these incidents, so little data is available. Official reports have identified more than a dozen in recent years.
As more American hospitals are arming guards, healthcare officials are debating about whether such steps improve safety or endanger patients.
The Growing Crisis in Rural Healthcare Facilities
A Cleaning Alternative: The Benefits of Steam Technology
Novant Health Gets Approval for New Hospital and Freestanding Emergency Department
Preparing Healthcare Facilities for Severe Thunderstorms
NLCS Strengthens Safety and Compliance with Comprehensive Electrical Program