Tougher penalties sought for patients who assault Hawaii healthcare workers

Hawaii state lawmakers are seeking tougher criminal penalties for people who assault healthcare workers, according to an article on the Hawaii Tribune-Herald website.

There were 1,075 assaults against healthcare workers in Hawaii hospitals, nursing homes and patients’ homes — during in-home health care — in 2017, according to testimony.

“There are rising rates of assault and violence against health care workers in Hawaii,” Dan Brinkman, CEO of Hilo Medical Center. “At Hilo Medical Center ...  we experienced 20 incidents of assault against our employees in the last year.”

About 95 percent were perpetrated by patients. The associated costs to the hospital in 2017 were $400,000, Brinkman said.

Read the article.