Kings County Patient Charged With Assaults
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A patient at Kings County Hospital's psychiatric unit is facing assault charges for allegedly attacking a nurse's assistant and two others.
Police say Robert Rush was taken into custody after the attack on Sandra Douglas, 49, early Tuesday morning at the East Flatbush facility.
Douglas' family says the attack left the woman in intensive care.
The police department says Rush has been charged in connection with the assault of three people. There are no details on the other victims.
Douglas' family says more needs to be done to ensure the safety of hospital employees.
"There's just no reason why a worker should be brutally attacked by a patient, that is just crazy," said Demar Sims, the victim's son. "It shouldn't happen. You should be able to go to work and know that there is security in a facility like that."
"They need better security on the job, not just cameras," added Douglas' sister, Audrey Douglas.
The Health and Hospitals Corporation, which runs Kings County Hospital, says it's investigating the incident and has measures in place to reduce violent incidents.
The hospital came under scrutiny last year after the death of Esmin Green – a patient who died in the waiting room of the old psychiatric ward after being ignored for more than 24 hours by staff.