Should assaults on medical personnel be a Felony Offense?

[NRSKarenRN]

query seen at pa state nurses association website...

do you feel that assaults on medical personnel should be considered a felony offense?

yes

95%

no

5%

poll ends: 31 january 2008

i encourage you to vote there: http://www.panurses.org/new/

have seen bb members increasingly mentioning assaults as part of their work, so opening dialogue here......

assault (the threat of violence)

battery (physical violence)

will also send them our results.

[justme1972]

Yes, yes, yes!!! Absolutely!!! I have never understood why injuring a police officer is a felony, but not a nurse, fireman, EMS worker, etc. We are out there on the front lines as well!!!

The difference is...the majority of healthcare workers work for a private employer.

The professions listed above are PUBLIC employees.

[Perpetual Student]

Assaulting (or battering) a nurse, doctor, cop, person of a different race, circus performer, hamburger flipper, or random person off of the street warrants the same punishment. Creating special classes of citizens that can, or cannot, be abused is absolutely insane. Non-defensive violent conduct is intolerable regardless of whom it is directed at.

[grace90, LPN, LVN]

Assaulting (or battering) a nurse, doctor, cop, person of a different race, circus performer, hamburger flipper, or random person off of the street warrants the same punishment. Creating special classes of citizens that can, or cannot, be abused is absolutely insane. Non-defensive violent conduct is intolerable regardless of whom it is directed at.

Isn't it a bigger deal to assault a police officer than a regular joe on the street? Cops put themselves at risk everyday with what they deal with. So do health professionals. So we shouldhave extra protection too.

[Perpetual Student]

Isn't it a bigger deal to assault a police officer than a regular joe on the street? Cops put themselves at risk everyday with what they deal with. So do health professionals. So we shouldhave extra protection too.

I believe it's nowhere nearly as serious to assault a police officer as it is a child, woman, or disabled person. Cops have training, body armor, and weaponry with which to defend themselves. Unfortunately, there are currently laws that give police officers special treatment. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying people should be able to freely attack them, but it's not more serious than attacking anyone else. Non-defensive violence against ANYONE should not be tolerated, regardless of occupation.