State Rep. Hank Vaupel this week introduced a plan to better protect medical personnel from violence.

Vaupel, of Fowlerville, said Michigan hospitals have reported a significant increase in the number of violent encounters with patients and their visitors, creating a need for stronger protections. His plan would stiffen penalties for people who assault health care workers.

“Assaults on health care workers are becoming much more prevalent,” Vaupel said. “Not only are these incidents dangerous for the medical professionals involved, but the safety of all patients is at risk when hospital operations are forced to shut down.”

Health care workers in the United States suffer more than 15,000 injuries each year due to workplace violence, according to a 2015 report from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In the study, 21 percent of nurses reported being physically assaulted and more than 50 percent reported verbal abuse.

House Bills 4327-28 add health care professionals and medical volunteers to a protected group of workers that already includes police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel. Assaulting one of these protected professionals could result in a felony with enhanced penalties.

“Health care workers – just like our first responders – put their safety on the line to save lives,” Vaupel said. “We must do more to ensure violence against medical personnel is taken seriously.”

The plan been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration.

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