healthcare worker safety
Leelamma Lal, a dedicated 67-year-old nurse with over two decades of service at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, was viciously assaulted by a patient undergoing the Baker Act process. The incident occurred in Palm Beach County, Florida.
On February 18, 2025, Nurse Leelamma Lal was attending to 33-year-old Stephen Scantlebury, who had been admitted to the hospital for a non-mental health-related medical issue. Upon further evaluation, healthcare professionals determined that Scantlebury met the criteria for involuntary psychiatric examination under the state’s Baker Act. This law allows for the involuntary commitment of individuals deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.
Before Scantlebury could be transferred to a designated mental health facility, he launched an unprovoked attack on Nurse Lal. The assault left her with severe facial injuries, including fractures to nearly every bone in her face. She remains hospitalized and is now facing a long and challenging recovery process.
According to statements from Scantlebury’s wife, Megan, her husband had been displaying concerning behavior in the days leading up to the attack. Megan revealed that Stephen had been paranoid, believing that people were trying to harm him and that their home was being bugged.
Stephen Scantlebury has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, with a hate crime enhancement added due to the nature of the attack.
At a pre-trial detention hearing, Scantlebury’s defense attorneys requested that he be transferred to a mental health facility instead of remaining in jail, given his apparent psychiatric struggles. However, the judge ruled that this request was premature, and Scantlebury will remain in custody as he awaits trial.
Why was he not restrained? Her lawyer better make sure she retires to a nice villa somewhere to recuperate. And someone needs to be fired for this. She could have been killed. They leave nurses with dangerous patients far too often. Then wonder why nobody wants to work at certain places.