Man shoots himself in the ER

Published

This happened to me at work yesterday. WOW what a day!

taken from www.moultrieobserver.com

Man shoots himself at ER

Victim in critical condition

John Oxford

MOULTRIE-A 49-year-old man shot himself at Colquitt Regional Medical Center after his son took him to the emergency room Wednesday afternoon.

Moultrie Police Sgt. Roger Lindsay said Charles "Charlie" Hamilton, 49, of 2312 Sylvester Drive, was brought to the emergency room by his son, complaining of several medical problems. Hamilton went inside the bathroom at the ER's waiting room, and his son stated he heard a single gunshot. Lindsay was called to the ER at 3:21 p.m.

When the son went into the bathroom, Lindsay said he found Hamilton with a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head area. Moultrie police officers found a 9 mm pistol inside the bathroom, and the son identified the gun as Hamilton's.

The son told officers he did not know Hamilton had brought the gun with him to the ER, Lindsay said.

A hospital spokesman said Hamilton was listed in critical condition as of late Wednesday afternoon.

Lindsay said Hamilton's son believes the medical problems his father complained of were the reason he shot himself. He could not elaborate on what medical conditions Hamilton suffered from.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My sympathies to the ER personel and the family of this person. THis is v ery traumatic situation. I just hope family does not try to blame this on the hospital. A ER nurse was just telling me that they now have to force menstrating admits to remove sanitary napkins because they had incidence of concealed weapon in napkin. In the future we may have to have a system where everyone is assumed to be armed and go through a metal detector.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

So very sorry. Was a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing done? It should be.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Did they have a double shooting in an Atlanta hospital recently...in the a CICU?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think metal detectors are a great idea. Wow, that is so sad. I can't imagine what the family and staff is going through. My prayers are with them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No debriefing done.

It was very bad. The family did try to blame the hospital. I felt sorry for my charge and triage.

I was with a SICK, SICK patient that I had to accompany EMS on transfer to a nother facility. We were loading him up when it happened. It was so so bad on all of us.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

After signing in at triage yesterday with 20yo son (possible kidney stone)and waiting 5 hours to be taken back to see doc, I can understand how some family's react to delay in treatment.

6 hours after ER arrival he got IV pain meds, then CAT scan--multiple bilat kidney stones. There has to be a better way for pain mgmt of clients with suspected renal colic when ER backed up due to no beds!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

His wait time was 9 minutes.

They were on the way to get him when he shot himself.

DD

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

What a terrible situation. Some years ago a man came into the ER of the hospital where I was working, pulled out a gun and started shooting up members of his family that were there with his mother. He killed two and injured two, including his mother before he was wrestled to the ground. Thank goodness no one on the hospital staff was hurt. However, something like this is a very frightening situation. It's one thing to take the hand of someone and watch as they pass from this world, and quite another to see life yanked from someone so violently. It reinforces in us how easily and how fast something can go terribly wrong and how fragile each of our lives really is. I'm glad you are OK and none of the staff was physically injured. I suppose the idea of metal detectors is now going to be discussed at your facility.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What a terrible situation. Some years ago a man came into the ER of the hospital where I was working, pulled out a gun and started shooting up members of his family that were there with his mother. He killed two and injured two, including his mother before he was wrestled to the ground. Thank goodness no one on the hospital staff was hurt. However, something like this is a very frightening situation. It's one thing to take the hand of someone and watch as they pass from this world, and quite another to see life yanked from someone so violently. It reinforces in us how easily and how fast something can go terribly wrong and how fragile each of our lives really is. I'm glad you are OK and none of the staff was physically injured. I suppose the idea of metal detectors is now going to be discussed at your facility.

It's a terrible thing to happen, esp on your watch:o . But thinnk of what could have happened...G-d forbid. He probably was quite unstable psych case.He turned gun on himself, but... I don't even want to think about it:angryfire We paly with this "fire" ,literally' every day.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 6 years of ER fun, med/surg, blah, blah.
:confused: How could the hospital be accountable for this situation? How very sad for the family & for the staff! And now the family points a finger at the hospital? :madface: No one wants to take responsibility for their own family.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.

sadly, no one wants to take responsibility for anything anymore....just glad no staff or innocent bystanders hurt.......

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion