This surgeon is on trial for murder for trying to kill his physician colleague
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“I have worked in some dysfunctional surgical departments in my time but I must say that this takes the prize. I have been punched in the chest, seen a registrar head-butted in theatre, and known a consultant to bite a colleague’s arm as she reached over him.” — ER doctor on Reddit @JohnHunter1728
Workplace tension can, unfortunately, extend far beyond the hospital or clinic. In early 2021, a conflict between physicians in Nottingham, UK, got violent—and almost turned deadly.
Tension escalates to attempted murder charges
The BBC reported that surgeon Graeme Perks was taken to the hospital after a colleague allegedly broke into his residence, first attempted to set fire to the home, and ultimately stabbed him.[]
The severely wounded surgeon was “transferred to critical care in a medically-induced coma, underwent three operations and lost six litres of blood before he was discharged from hospital on 15 February,” the BBC explained.
Dr. Perks' colleague, surgeon Jonathan Peter Brooks, is now on trial for attempted murder.
But how did it get this far? The violent altercation appears to trace back to the physicians’ workplace. “Nottingham Crown Court heard Jonathan Peter Brooks hated Graeme Perks as he was a witness in disciplinary proceedings, which had begun three days before the stabbing,” the BBC wrote.
Healthcare isn’t immune to violence
Workplace tension can occur in any environment, and healthcare is no exception. In some cases, healthcare workers may even become violent. “Violent incidences have been reported between physicians, as the changing pattern of medical practice creates enormous stress on both work and family,” writes Michael A. E. Ramsay, MD, in the Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.[]
“I have worked in some dysfunctional surgical departments in my time but I must say that this takes the prize,” writes Reddit user @JohnHunter1728 in response to the attack on Dr. Perks. “I have been punched in the chest, seen a registrar head-butted in theatre, and known a consultant to bite a colleague’s arm as she reached over him.” []
Not only does conflict negatively impact colleagues—both those directly and indirectly involved—but it ultimately has consequences on the quality of care. At the very least, conflicts in the healthcare setting “have an adverse effect on productivity, morale, and patient care,” Dr. Ramsay continues. “They may result in high employee turnover and certainly limit staff contributions and impede efficiency.”
Detecting and preventing
Codes of conduct at hospitals and clinics are intended to prevent conflicts and violence, but employees should still be vigilant for warning signs among their colleagues as well as patients and guests. These signs may include angry or threatening speech as well as nonverbal cues such as intimidating or aggressive body posture. “If the warning signs are not heeded, disastrous consequences can occur,” Dr. Ramsay writes. “Similarly, interactions with families of very sick patients can turn physical as emotions overcome rational thought.”
Tension can rise in high-stakes, high-pressure healthcare environments. Healthcare staff should know and follow protocols for responding to and reporting incidents or concerning behaviors among colleagues and patients alike.
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