I was slapped by a doctor!

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I honestly can't believe it myself! I just graduated from my program on May 16 of last month. I am still in orientation at a large level 1 trauma center on a busy cardiac care unit. The hospitalist is known for having a horrible temper anyway. Well, he was on a roll all shift today. One of my pts BP was all over the place all day. It became very low suddenly. I told my preceptor (still on orientation) and she said to have the MD paged. He was not happy and screamed at me over the phone. I braced myself for when he got to the floor, already getting very nervous. Well, he came up fit to be tied. He slammed the papers he was holding onto the nurses station where I was standing with the health unit coordinator. I forgot to get the pts chart out for him to look at (as he requested on the phone...my fault i know :(). He asked for the chart and I said...hold on I'll have to get it for you. He turned bright red and said harshly (but not screaming) "You paged me and you're not even ready!".

And then thats when it happened -- he took his hand and hit my cheek. Now, it wasn't some soap-opera backhand where I went flying across the room or anything..but a little pop. Kinda like what a mom would do to a small child if they said a bad word or something. I was so shocked I couldn't even say anything. I just handed him the chart and he want to the pts room. The whole time I was fighting back tears. The HUC and I just exchanged looks of shock with each other! I think I am going to file a complaint tomorrow against him...and the HUC said she will back me up since she was the only one who witnessed this. I had no idea that doctors behaved this way..is this normal?? To say the least I'm dreading going back in on Wednesday. I had heard some doctor horror stories..but nothing like this -- what I consider to be assault. Am I overreacting? I don't want to be seen as a drama queen or a trouble maker being on the floor only 2 weeks in this unit :(. Ugh!

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
P.S. If the DR. felt the need to sue(or the right) he wouldn't have resigned,just sued!!!!! sue

I don't thnk they meant the Dr suing, because it ain't slander if it's true!

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Specializes in ER.
She got slapped and the hospital fired him, or let him resign. I think that was plenty of action. It was the original poster's choice to press charges or not. That part is not up to the hospital.

I condemn all work place violence, but if the OP did not press charges what more should the hospital do other than appropriately getting rid of the perpetrator?

actually, I don't know that the OP brought up the issue of pressing charges to this post or not. Maybe she was unaware of what to do... the hospital is looking out for themselves, not for the nurse. Let's put the shoe on the other foot, what would happen if a nurse slapped a doctor? The BON would remove their license.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Many people advised her to press charges so she was aware of the option. It was up to her.

My comment about "no permanent harm" was merely in response to some not thinking the hospital had done enough and that the nurse should sue. I was only commenting that you cannot sue if there was no permanent harm and the hospital took appropriate action to protect the employee after this happened by making the doctor leave.

You all seem out for blood and seem to want to go after the employer when IN MY OPINION they took appropriate action.

IN my opinion that is not justified, but would be if they had not taken appropriate action. Just as a lawsuit is NOT justified since there was no lasting harm and and the emplyer reacted appropriately.

Should he have been arrested? Absolutely, but the person affected by all this chose not to go that route and that is her choice.

Y'all sure are reactive!:argue:

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The comment about the preceptor "gloating" was taken out of context... That was a quote from an earlier post from a different nurse who had experienced something similar. NOT the OP... Just to clarify! :)

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Specializes in ER.
Many people advised her to press charges so she was aware of the option. It was up to her.

My comment about "no permanent harm" was merely in response to some not thinking the hospital had done enough and that the nurse should sue. I was only commenting that you cannot sue if there was no permanent harm and the hospital took appropriate action to protect the employee after this happened by making the doctor leave.

You all seem out for blood and seem to want to go after the employer when IN MY OPINION they took appropriate action.

IN my opinion that is not justified, but would be if they had not taken appropriate action. Just as a lawsuit is NOT justified since there was no lasting harm and and the emplyer reacted appropriately.

Should he have been arrested? Absolutely, but the person affected by all this chose not to go that route and that is her choice.

Y'all sure are reactive!:argue:

so if a nurse is assaulted by a patient or a visitor in the ER, for instance, and he or she is jumped from behind and suffered bruises and scratches but no fractures, you're saying there's no reason to sue? Have the assaulter arrested??? Assault on a healthcare worker is a FELONY, if not in most states, in many, and is taken quite seriously. You are right, that whether or not she decided to press charges MIGHT have been because she spoke with a hospital attorney, and let's not forget who they are looking out for: THEIR employer (meaning hospital, not NURSE).

I can't believe that you feel assault on a nurse is not lawsuit worthy.... :no:

The below link (linked already within this thread somewhere) is the law in Alabama, with several other states following suit, including legislation in the Senate to make assaults on nurses a felony.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4090/is_200406/ai_n9465466

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

The way I see it. The doctor slapped the OP, she reported it, the hospital took the appropriate action, the OP did not wish to press charges, the doctor lucked out, she got a raise, life goes on. Case Closed. IMHO

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
The way I see it. The doctor slapped the OP, she reported it, the hospital took the appropriate action, the OP did not wish to press charges, the doctor lucked out, she got a raise, life goes on. Case Closed. IMHO

Thank you!

MassED,

She was lightly slapped per her report, she CHOSE not to press charges. The hospital fired (or let him resign) the MD.

If there were lasting harm she sould sue. If she chose she could press charges. You are comparing totally different situations.

:banghead::banghead::banghead:

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Specializes in ER.
Thank you!

MassED,

She was lightly slapped per her report, she CHOSE not to press charges. The hospital fired (or let him resign) the MD.

If there were lasting harm she sould sue. If she chose she could press charges. You are comparing totally different situations.

:banghead::banghead::banghead:

the issue is more than black and white. In her OP, she is a new nurse, she stated she "knew" she should've had the chart ready for this hothead doc (as though she deserved this act), and whether or not it's a light slap doesn't matter. I still believe because she's "new" (not sure how new), that she was provided information that they knew they could get away with and try to appease her. She likely believed the hospital was actually looking out for her. Just my opinion. :hlk:

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
the issue is more than black and white. In her OP, she is a new nurse, she stated she "knew" she should've had the chart ready for this hothead doc (as though she deserved this act), and whether or not it's a light slap doesn't matter. I still believe because she's "new" (not sure how new), that she was provided information that they knew they could get away with and try to appease her. She likely believed the hospital was actually looking out for her. Just my opinion. :hlk:

I guess we must just agree to disagree on this one! I think she had choices to make and she made the ones that worked best for her. New or not......

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Specializes in ER.
I guess we must just agree to disagree on this one! I think she had choices to make and she made the ones that worked best for her. New or not......

agreed.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
agreed.

Cool - adult beverages are on me!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
Yeah - but it IS progress. Sometimes I think people are unrealistic in what they expect. Lawsuits if permanent harm, but that was not the case so I think it is pretty reasonable.

I am sure many will disagree, and let me know about it!:smokin:

When you ask for too much considering what happened then you weaken the case and just seem like another sue happy person looking to get rich.

Oh no, I'm very realistic about my expectations (lol). My comments are not about suing and getting rich.

Had the OP pressed charges as we all wanted, the most that probably would have happened is the doc might have pleaded no contest to simple battery and gotten off with a fine and maybe anger management classes, at worst. That's being realistic.

If she sued, it's unlikely she would have gotten a big reward since she really wasn't injured. She might have been able to get a very small settlement. Maybe. That's being realistic.

No my objection was to the suggestion by some that the hospital acted on behalf of the nurse and that they were being so nice and so generous by giving her a raise. I guarantee you they were only following the recommended course of action set forth by risk management. Anyone who thinks otherwise is being somewhat naive. Every action they took was to minimize any future liability on their part. They were protecting themselves and you know what? That's what I expect them to do! I didn't say they were wrong for doing it.....they have to protect themselves which is why I say that we have to protect ourselves. Just understand why things are happening, that's all I'm saying.

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