Man Charged After Nurse Seriously Injured in Assault at B.C. Hospital

A nurse at Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody, B.C., was seriously injured last month in an assault by a recently discharged patient. Police say they arrested the 41-year-old man immediately after the alleged attack, and he now faces a charge of assault causing bodily harm.

The man, who has no fixed address and is known to police, is scheduled to appear in court in Port Coquitlam on Feb. 10.

Police and Union Respond

Port Moody police say officers responded to a call at the hospital on Nov. 20 and arrested the man at the scene. Const. Sam Zacharias confirmed the suspect has a criminal record but did not provide details about the nurse’s condition or the circumstances of the attack.

Adriane Gear, president of the B.C. Nurses' Union, expressed relief at the charges but emphasized that such legal action is rare.

“People often get away with assaulting health-care workers,” Gear said. “We’re looking for legislative changes, such as making it an aggravating factor in sentencing if someone assaults a health-care worker.”

Calls for Legislative Action and Security

The B.C. Nurses' Union is advocating for amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada to strengthen penalties for violence against health-care workers. Gear also urged health authorities to increase security measures in hospitals, citing the frequency of such incidents.

“Violence against nurses and other health-care workers is all too common,” Gear said. “We need tangible changes to ensure their safety.”

A Growing Concern

The incident at Eagle Ridge Hospital underscores the growing concern about workplace violence in health-care settings. Nurses and health-care advocates have repeatedly called for better protections, pointing to the high-risk environments they navigate daily.

As the case proceeds in court, the attack has reignited discussions about how best to protect health-care workers from harm.