Citation

Engel F, Marsh S. Hosp. Community Psychiatry 1986; 37(2): 159-162.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, American Psychiatric Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3943805

Abstract

Violent behavior of patients is an occupational health hazard of health care professionals that the authors believe has not been fully recognized. Hospitals have developed a wide variety of techniques to manage patients who assault staff but have consistently ignored the plight of the victimized employee. Although professional staff who have been assaulted resist seeing themselves as victims, the authors believe they experience the feelings and reactions typical of other victims and therefore may need help in dealing with emotional trauma. The authors describe a victims' assistance program adopted by Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal and discuss problems associated with implementing programs like it.

Language: en