RN Assaulted by MD

Published

While at work last November, I was verbally and then physically abused by a doctor that works at the same hospital as me. He punched me, in the arm with his fist closed, and yelled at me. It was also caught on camera!

The hospital urged me not to file a police report or even press charges since it would create a hostile environment for me and could even lead to my being fired! I filed the report, but did nothing else.

He is a total JERK and has no clue how to talk to nurses patients or even other doctors. He never apologized and treated me totally different after it all happened. I'm worried he'll do this again! But I'm also worried the hospital will come after me.

Any thoughts or comments? Thanks!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I am so sorry this happened to you...((HUGS)). As per the Terms of Service we cannot offer legal advice.

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If you have please call them for advice. I would consult with an attorney for the best course of action. There are statutes of limitations but I don't know what they are...talk to an attorney.

Then I would start reporting the facility for OSHA, The JC, EEOC....really bad form from a facility.

For what it's worth....I would have chosen to fight that battle right then and there....I would have reported him anyhow and filed a report...NO ONE has the right to abuse ANYONE!

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Thanks! I'm a new nurse and just didn't know what to say or do, especially when everything happened. It's all about learning. :)

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Unbelievable. He assaults you, then the hospital assaults you again by threatening your job if you report him.

I would worry about what would happen the next time someone makes him angry; will his violence escalate?

If it were me, I would file a police report as well as a report with the medical board. Get in touch with your malpractice carrier. Make sure if you have to deal with this doctor in the future that you have someone with you; that way, if he becomes threatening you have a witness. Also, does your company have a "Corporate Compliance" line? I'd use that, too. Find out if there's a way you can get hold of that tape/a copy of that tape.

Lastly, I would consider looking for another job. I wouldn't want to work for an organization that condones/covers up this kind of behavior.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I would have filed the police report, but then I've seen the results of what was described before. The nurse I worked with was convinced to drop all complaints against the MD, but fired for something totally different about 3 months later. Every single person on the unit knew exactly why she was fired, but there was no proof because she'd dropped all complaints against the hospital/MD.

It's in the hospitals best interest to squash bad publicity. They are not your friend. The advice they give will be in THEIR best interest. They will protect themselves and their MDs over the interests of a nurse.

Nobody gets to hit me for free. I wish all women would adopt that attitude.

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Specializes in Obstetrics, Education, Woman's Health.

Hi Lulu,

First I would like to say Sorry that you had to endure such a jerk. The first thing I would have you to do is always keep a little notebook with you to document date, time, incidents and witnesses. And by no means take the abuse. I would consult an attorney just to know what you are up against but No means be bullied to believing you have to keep quiet to save your job. That is like telling a woman being abused by a spouse do not say anything or you may have no place to live.

It is your right to work in an environment where you do not have to deal with such and an MD behind your name gives you no right to bully anyone. If you let it go without addressing this he/she knows he/she has you and I promise you the behavior will continue. You let him/her know you will not take verbal or another kind of abuse from him or anyone else.

I am a NP, but when I was a new L&D Nurse a physician did the same to me, and even talked about me in surgery where I had colleagues that knew me. I asked him nicely one day to step in an empty patient room and I told him exactly how I felt, I let him know I knew all the things he said and that if he ever approached me in that manner ever again there would be a problem. I Never had a problem with him again, years later when I came an NP he wanted me to work for him(no way) but I gained his respect.

We had another hormonal OB/GYN MD who threw tantrums..he would spin the chart holder and threw charts over the floor waiting for the nurse to run and pick them up. He made nurses cry. When I was in charge, the minute he came to the floor throwing charts I would tell him the info he was needing then leave the station...he then would pick the charts up. When he started ranting over Nothing... I left the station and cared for my patients. At one point he finally got the message...he was turned into administration for making a new nurse cry and quit her job, and he mentioned to a Nurse in my presence, all she had to do was ignore me like Cheryl. I thought to myself wow that is a hot mess this is not some initiation of new nurses but I still did not acknowledge his comment.

Be professional, be assertive, know your stuff and stand your ground and they will respect you.

Cheryl

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

Decades ago I read in the paper about a nurse who sued a doctor. Her colleagues testified.

The surgeon had been angry because she opened the wrong sterile kit. He threw a scalpel into the wall. He threw a plastic container that hit her nose.

She sued for one dollar pain and suffering. It was somewhat painful for four days so she asked for 25 cents a day for pain and suffering.

The jury awarded her the $1.00 and ten thousand dollars punitive damages.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Shame on that hospital for not backing you. They're a bunch of corporate weenies. You've been given great advice; consult an attorney, report the doctor, the hospital and start looking for another job. They will find a way to retaliate. Or you can wait till they do that, and then nail them for retaliation, if you want to go down fighting. But don't take this lying down. That just empowers the bullies to escalate. How much crap has that doctor gotten away with till now? Enough.

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First off, I am so sorry that this happend to you. As a new nurse, you need to know that not all facilities are like this, and not all doctors are so ill behaved. Do not let this incident squash your desire to be a nurse. I am stunned at this. I am at a loss as to how a facility would even begin to justify to you or anyone that it is somehow "ok" for an MD (or anyone) to put their hands on a fellow employee. They have got to be mad!!

Secondly, be sure to contact your malpractice carrier on how to proceed from here. Unfortunetely, as a pp suggested, sometimes one ends up without a job from some strange trumped up "error" (and moreso if you are a new nurse who may be into a probationary period) that has absolutely nothing to do with your nursing practice. If you are a union facility, you could also make contact with a delegate going forward, just that they are in the loop should all of a sudden your practice gets called into question.

Be sure that you also speak with your carrier about a copy of that tape. It would be interesting if it is "no longer available".

In any event, do NOT sign a thing until you can get some legal advice, that we can not give on AN.

Anyone can be a jerk at any time, and the behavior makes for a hostile work place. The glaring issue with your post is that this became a physical punching thing. That is absolutely unacceptable in any form. For any hospital to condone such behavior is outrageous.

Start getting your ducks in a row. Put a resume out there. Contact your . Speak with the BON if you do not have malpractice insurance (and you should, but if you do not, something to consider for the future).

Please know that no one deserves to be hit. Please know that however this facility treats you going forward is in no way a reflection of you as a person or as a nurse. I am greatly concerned that you are a new nurse who perhaps is younger. If this is the case---I can not stress enough to you that this is NOT ok--please don't let it be a reflection further of appropriate response.

Finally my personal 2 cents-- (and again, I am only assuming if you are newer grad you are younger--please forgive me if I am assuming too much) you need to have conversation with your parents about this. I am an old bat, but bounce thoughts off my parents all the time. And my boatload of kids (some who are adults in their own right) do as well. You need the support of your family going forward.

Again, I am stunned. However, I wish you the greatest support moving forward in your career.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma ICU, CVICU.

I would report him to the medical board and press formal charges. I would also go all the way up the chain at HR and report whoever encouraged you not to report him. That is absolutely INSANE!

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I think you owe it to your patients, coworkers, the public, and yourself, to press charges. Does the hospital care about you? What if next time he beats you to death? The hospital cares about their exposure to bad publicity. If they had half a brain they should care more about their liability. They will probably end up paying a large settlement over this character, maybe to you if you follow through. Good luck.

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