The Rising Threat of Violence in Healthcare Settings
Hospitals are meant to be sanctuaries - places of healing, hope, and compassion. But for too many healthcare workers and patients, they are becoming scenes of chaos and fear due to rising threats of violence.
In a disturbing 2024 incident at Jefferson Abington Hospital, a psychiatric patient was forcibly restrained by a security guard, reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer. The 47-year-old mother bit the guard’s arm during the altercation. Though she was initially charged, those charges were dropped after a video of the incident came to light, showing what many are calling excessive force. It wasn’t an isolated case—Abington was cited three times in just four months for inappropriate aggression by security toward patients with behavioral health needs.
The rising threat of violence in healthcare settings is a growing reported trend. In February 2025, York County, Pennsylvania, became the scene of a horrifying hospital shooting. A man—grieving and reportedly seeking more care for his terminally ill wife—stormed UPMC Memorial Hospital, took ICU staff hostage, and engaged in a deadly shootout with police. A doctor, nurse, and custodian were wounded before the gunman was killed.
These tragedies underscore an alarming trend: healthcare settings are becoming hotspots for violence. According to the Centers for Disease Control, healthcare and social assistance workers represent just 10% of the U.S. workforce—but they experience a staggering 48% of all nonfatal workplace violence. Even more telling, they account for 72.8% of private industry workplace violence incidents between 2021 and 2022. Unlike random attacks in other industries, violence in healthcare is often targeted—driven by frustration, fear, or mental health crises.
Why is this happening? Hospitals are, by design, open and accessible. They're places where families rush in during emergencies and where patients arrive around the clock. That openness, while essential for care, also creates vulnerabilities.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of violence in a healthcare setting—especially when it could have been prevented—you may have legal options. Please get in touch with a top Philadelphia lawyer for negligent security claims to discuss your legal options. Contact us to set a time to meet today.