The Promise of Workplace Violence Legislation
With the legislators back in session, there are promises of Workplace Violence legislation on the docket. This session there will be proposed legislation to permit law enforcement to immediately remove those individuals that threaten or commit violence that impedes with providing medical care.
At first blush this seems like a win for healthcare workers – those that are causing violence and interfering with the provision of medical care will be removed from our care environments. But under further inspection, this solution may be inhibited by other Vermont legislation in meeting its desired intent.
The proposed legislation authorizes law enforcement to remove a violent person from the care environment, but there is no expectation in the language that allows or requires law enforcement or a judge to detain the person beyond removal from the hospital.