Dr. Faughey
As I prepared to post a story on the over-use of antibiotics for Otitis Media, I learned about the vicious killing of Dr. Kathryn Faughey, a Manhattan therapist. Thru building surveillance tapes the New York Police Department has pieced together some of the events prior to Dr. Faughey’s death. A man entered the building in which Dr. Faughey’s practice was housed stating he had an appointment with Dr. Stinbach, a psychiatrist who practices in the same office. He proceeded to the office and sat in the waiting area for 30 minutes then for unknown reasons went to Dr. Faughey’s office where he used a knife and meat cleaver to mutilate her. Dr. Shinbach who was in an adjacent office with a patient heard screams and went to assist her only to be stabbed in the face. He is currently in critical condition.
The story in itself is disturbing but as a female physician who functions out of a private office it gave me chills. Health care providers are not often thought of as civil servants in the line of fire. However as Dr. Faughey’s death graphically demonstrates that couldn’t be further from the truth. Many health care providers are in the line of fire as they perform their daily work. I, like most physicians, have often thought that the most vulnerable physicians are those taking care of prisoners, the mentally disturbed, developmentally challenged, and international relief workers.
When you search for articles on ‘Health Care Providers and violence in the work place’ the majority of articles are focused on physician’s description of violence and how to care for violent victims but fewer articles about violence perpetrated against health care workers. One British study showed that a third of doctors have been a victim of physical or verbal violence; 50% of doctors identified violence in the workplace as a problem; female doctors were more likely to experience violence, followed by general physicians; two thirds of psychiatrist thought that violence in the workplace was a problem compared with one fifth of surgeons. Most physicians have little or no training in dealing with violent patients and most outpatient medical facilities are not built to secure the health care provider, but to the comfort of the patient.
What does this say to me: Health Care Providers may not be in the direct line of fire as are soldiers, police officers, firemen, however they are public servants that fall victim to violence. Dr. Faughey’s tragic death should serve as a wake up call to the Health Care Community. Psychiatrist, General Physicians, Receptionist and other health care providers who practice out of private offices are particularly vulnerable to being victims of physical and verbal violence therefore medical facilities (private practices or large hospital practices) need to be designed with Health Care Providers safety in mind. Most importantly providers should be trained in how to deal with violent patients.
My prayers go out to Dr. Faughey and Dr. Shinbach’s family and friends.
Yours in Good Health
