LOXAHATCHEE, FL – A harrowing incident at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital could leave a nurse blind for life after she was reportedly attacked by a patient under psychiatric care. The patient, identified as 33-year-old Stephen Eric Scantlebury, was at the facility under the Baker Act, which allows for involuntary detention for mental health evaluation.
According to an arrest affidavit by the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, the attack occurred when the nurse entered Scantlebury’s hospital room on the third floor. Witnesses described how Scantlebury suddenly leaped from his bed and began assaulting the nurse without warning.
As the situation escalated, Scantlebury allegedly refused to cease his attack despite appeals from a witness. He then fled the room, making his way down the hospital’s stairwell and out onto Southern Boulevard, still connected to EKG patches.
Video footage shows the dramatic moments when deputies confronted and apprehended him in the middle of the road, using Tasers or stun guns to command his surrender.
The nurse, whose identity remains undisclosed, was airlifted to another medical facility and is in critical condition. Doctors indicate severe injuries, noting that she sustained multiple facial fractures with a bleak prognosis for vision retention in both eyes.
Prior to the incident, authorities reported that Scantlebury was exhibiting heightened paranoia, attributing unrelated troubles to those around him. His behavior prompted his admission under the Baker Act for psychiatric evaluation.
In the aftermath, HCA Florida Healthcare released a statement highlighting the rapidity of the event and expressed profound concern for their colleague’s welfare, committing to supporting staff shaken by the incident.
Willa Fuller from the Florida Nurses Association emphasized the need for systemic changes to protect healthcare professionals, citing the rise in such violent occurrences. She called for the inclusion of direct care nurses in forming preventative strategies against violence targeting healthcare workers.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Scantlebury faces charges of attempted murder, with a court appearance slated for the coming Tuesday.