[BBFRN]

"Man says daughter injured when security guards downed him in hospital"


Updated: 4:31 p.m. ET Aug 14, 2007


HOUSTON - In a confrontation captured on videotape, a hospital security guard fired a stun gun to stop a defiant father from taking home his newborn, sending both man and child crashing to the floor.
Now the man says the baby girl suffers from head trauma because she was dropped.
“I’ve got to wonder what kind of moron would Tase an adult holding a baby,” said George Kirkham, a former police officer and criminologist at Florida State University. “It doesn’t take rocket science to realize the baby is going to fall.”



I do feel sorry for the baby, because its parents are idiots.

[Diary/Dairy]

Awww, poor baby~ Why was the dad trying to take her home...and why did he require tasering to prevent him from doing so??

[SharonH, RN]

Originally Posted by diarygirl512

Awww, poor baby~ Why was the dad trying to take her home...and why did he require tasering to prevent him from doing so??

THere were some issues with the parents and the staff.......The staff claims not to have been sure of what exactly the relationship of the father to the child. Additionally, there was a history of domestic violence between the parents so DFACS was involved somehow.

I had no idea that hospital security was allowed to have Tasers. I don't think the officer used the Taser prudently in this case. They could simply have detained the man until the police arrived.

There have been several instances of policemen using Tasers inappropriately. I recall a case in which a 6-year old child who was having a temper tantrum was tasered down in Florida; you wouldn't believe how many people right here on this forum said that it was A-ok with them. *sigh* A man here in the Atlanta area was Tasered to his death when he didn't comply with officers to be still; the man had committed no crime he was having a medical problem which caused him to respond inappropriately.

[BBFRN]

I totally agree that it is entirely inappropriate to taser someone holding a baby.

[MidwifeWannaB]

I can't believe that moron. He must not have children.

[CRNI-ICU20]

Just what society needs.....give a moron a bit of authority, add one taser gun.....mix in a mild dose of confusion.....and you have a recipe for lawsuit....duh.

[oramar]

I think the officer should be charged with somesort of assult.

[Noryn]

The responses on these types of threads admittedly frustrate me. We can argue about tasers, we can argue about security guards but the real cause of the problem was this father. He just took the baby and tried to leave.

I am willing to bet the security guards did not know the relationship as the father got into the elevator which wouldnt work because the child's security tag had not been cleared for discharge. So they came upon a man trying to leave the hospital with a baby. To the best of my knowledge, if the mother had not consented to the discharge then this would be considered kidnapping.

Regardless, it makes a great media story but you never "play" with a kidnapper that is unless you want killed. These people are often not thinking correctly or going on instinct and will literally kill anyone in their way. The guards were in a horrid situation, if they did nothing the person could have left with the child and god knows what could have happened to the child, if they forced a confrontation the child still would have either likely been injured or the guards could have been shot/stabbed, etc. From my perspective, incapacitating the father was the only choice.

Again a horrible situation, but only the father is to blame. Having his child taken by social services and apparently being involved in domestic violence I think is a good indicator of his character.

[BBFRN]

I agree with both sides, honestly. The father is an idiot, but another option should've been used while he was holding the baby.

[Spidey's mom]

Originally Posted by Noryn

The responses on these types of threads admittedly frustrate me. We can argue about tasers, we can argue about security guards but the real cause of the problem was this father. He just took the baby and tried to leave.

I am willing to bet the security guards did not know the relationship as the father got into the elevator which wouldnt work because the child's security tag had not been cleared for discharge. So they came upon a man trying to leave the hospital with a baby. To the best of my knowledge, if the mother had not consented to the discharge then this would be considered kidnapping.

Regardless, it makes a great media story but you never "play" with a kidnapper that is unless you want killed. These people are often not thinking correctly or going on instinct and will literally kill anyone in their way. The guards were in a horrid situation, if they did nothing the person could have left with the child and god knows what could have happened to the child, if they forced a confrontation the child still would have either likely been injured or the guards could have been shot/stabbed, etc. From my perspective, incapacitating the father was the only choice.

Again a horrible situation, but only the father is to blame. Having his child taken by social services and apparently being involved in domestic violence I think is a good indicator of his character.

I read the story this morning and agree with you. The "father" was a very violent guy . . .I've experienced that at the hospital.

A tough situation . . . .

steph