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"
Everyone Knew About It "
March 8 2002 - St. Thomas Ontario Canada
A psychiatric nurse
confronted in the hospital parking lot by an outpatient with a gun fears
one of the hospital’s staff encouraged the man’s obsession with her.
The nurse wants the hospital to investigate the caregiver’s behavior.
Lisa Casey says she was
harassed for two years by a man who pulled a handgun on her Tuesday in the
mental health care hospital parking lot as she was being walked to her car
by a male colleague.
Six weeks ago one of the
man’s caregivers suggested the man meet with Casey. He had been making
progress and wanted to meet with her because he needed closure. The man
had been sending her letters off and on for two years. He had started off
being friendly and talkative but that quickly changed. Notes were left on
her car then letters were sent to her house. Last summer he called her at
home. At every step, Casey said, she told the man she wasn’t interested
and he must stop. She notified her supervisors and "Everyone knew
about it," she said. According to a hospital spokesperson, the
hospital hasn’t launched an investigation but is holding debriefing
sessions.
Analysis
Romantic obsession usually
commences with subtle contact but, unless effectively checked by someone
in authority, can escalate to violence. Others, as it seems in this case,
may be manipulated to achieve the offender’s objective. Unless there was
a two-sided relationship, the perpetrator had no entitlement to closure.
He must be held accountable for his inappropriate actions. In this case,
with a combination of intervention by the male colleague, the victim
screaming, and security and the police arriving on the scene, no injury
occurred. The offender gave up and the gun was fake.
A thorough, timely,
independent, skilled investigation is essential in such cases as it
provides the facts necessary on which to make future decisions. Because of
investigation confidentiality, those with information are more likely to
speak out. An investigation will reduce speculation, reveal errors,
establish accountability and recommend future prevention measures. The
victim has the feeling that those in authority care and proper process is
being followed. An investigation that is not launched in a timely fashion
will lose its effectiveness. Debriefings have a place, and must be
properly structured, but they do not replace the value of a thorough
investigation.
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