Psych Pt Beats EMT With Toughbook

[46Young]

http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/05/16/cops-psych-patient-led-police-on-chase-into-nyc/

This happened to a crew from the hospital I used to work for. The EDP was an IFT psych x-fer going to an inpatient psych facility. He as 30 y/o and jacked from what I was told. He basically tuned up the EMT in the back the worst, giving him orbital fractures, and breaking a toughbook into pieces from repeatedly striking him on the head and face. He hit the driver, a good sam that stopped, and stole an off duty cop's car who had stopped to help, and was tazed in The Bronx after being chased and crashing the car. The EMT was hospitalized for several days.

 

[sir.shocksalot]

Just an awful story. I feel bad for the EMT that was beaten, and I wish them a speedy recovery.
As an aside, personally I truly think that if a patient wants to escape, they are free to go. I will not take a beating from a patient just to take them to the hospital. And if the patient's intent is to physically harm me, not to escape, then that will be met with equal and greater force. That all being said I realize that this story is rather vague, and it's hard to say what actually happened on this call. Suffice to say it's a sad story and a good lesson in caution to all of us.
I am glad psychiatric patients in my area are treated aggressively with sedatives if they show the slightest inclination to aggressive behavior. Olanzapine is a miracle drug.

 

[46Young]

What I know is that the EMT is a mild mannered guy, so he wouldn't provoke the pt to begin with, nor would he look to fight him. He would have just opened the door and let him out if that were an option. From what I understand, the pt snapped and started attacking him before he had the chance to do anything.