title: Pursuing Criminal Charges Against Patients who are Reported as Having Assaulted Healthcare Professionals: Considerations.
abstract: In two separate events in early 2014, a nurse was threatened with bodily harm by a patient in an inpatient psychiatry unit in Toronto. The nurses involved pursued criminal charges against the patients who made these threats. In response to questions regarding the procedure of criminally charging patients, and the supports available, a panel presentation was organized and presented for the inter-professional team. The key points from the panel are provided here as a resource for other organizations. This paper provides considerations learned from the Toronto Police Services, a Registered Nurse, a Nurse Manager, a Psychiatrist, a Bioethicist, a Legal representative and from Employee Relations.
authors.affiliation: Nurse manager who is committed to a healthy, safe and reliable work environment for patients and staff.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flogen
authors.affiliation: Medical director for the inpatient mental health unit at Toronto General Hospital where she is engaged in multiple quality and educational initiatives.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waddell
authors.affiliation: Prior to joining UHN, Barbara Russell worked in a variety of hospital settings as a bioethicist.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Registered nurse on the inpatient mental health unit with expertise in the acute, intensive environment.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luczak
authors.affiliation: Counsel, Legal Affairs, provides legal counsel regarding complex patient issues.
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garmaise
authors.affiliation: Masters of Human Resources Management, is a human resources manager with more than ten years of experience specializing in the Employee and Labour Relations Fields of Human Resources.
authors.forename: Khaula
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mangla
mesh_terms: D003416:Criminal Law; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D009864:Ontario; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017132:Workplace