By Robert B Young, MD
There have been several widely reported shootings of staff at health care facilities during the past 2 years. These include a physician shot in his exam room in California in January 2013, a case worker killed in Philadelphia in July 2014, a psychologist killed at a VA clinic in January of this year by a former staffer who had previously threatened him, and a surgeon killed at Boston Brigham & Women’s Hospital just this week.
Each of these shootings occurred in euphemistically termed “gun-free zones”, where no one is expected to be armed. But in one of these incidents, a doctor who was targeted saved himself and other staff by fighting back, thanks to his unorthodox decision and courageous action. That was in the Philadelphia attack. He carried a gun where they were not allowed, against the rules, knowing he was at risk–not just of his job, but of his life.
Remember what stops a bad guy with a gun?