Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to proceed with prosecution

128 replies

lilybetsy · 02/01/2019 10:43

A big vague but the essentials are here.

I'm a GP. Last week a male person came into my place of work asking for something i could not provide: Think an item of equipment that we simply don't have ( nor does any other GP surgery). I explained this to him, and told him where he could get what he needed. (about 1 mile away)
he got very angry, swore at me, threatened to 'finish me off' called me a 'cunt' and threw something at me. Then when my receptionist called he police he left.
The Police came, and told me I could pursue a prosecution if I wished, that this was an arrestable offence, and should be taken seriously.

I am inclined to pursue a prosecution, as much to make a serious statement about not accepting violence to anyone, Im ok. I have been a victim of DV and this kind of thing used to freak me out but I'm much stronger now.

Would you prosecute ? he has been removed from our patient list. Or is that vindictive, a waste of time since he didn't physically assault me?

OP posts:
Spudina · 02/01/2019 11:04

It's not vindictive. He broke the law. Hope you are feeling ok. These incidents can really shake your confidence. Do you have people you can talk to?

HamiltonCork · 02/01/2019 11:05

Prosecute
Hopefully the press will pick it up and the local community will be pre-warned about his violent tendencies.

Dollymixture22 · 02/01/2019 11:06

prosecute. This man needs to understand his behaviour is unacceptable. The wider community also needs to see that violence will be addressed.

I’m sorry this happened to you - it must have been very unsettling. You should be safe at work.

Returning2thesceneofthecrime · 02/01/2019 11:06

Prosecute

ViolaLucyofTirol · 02/01/2019 11:06

Prosecute. Would this be covered by the Emergency Workers Act?

DianaPrincessOfThemyscira · 02/01/2019 11:07

I would. He sounds like a massive bellend, used to getting his own way and not having his bad behaviour and threats challenged.

ViolaLucyofTirol · 02/01/2019 11:08

Just googled and think this is only for a hospital setting which I think should be expanded to include out of hospitals!

bridgetreilly · 02/01/2019 11:08

I genuinely don't understand why you wouldn't. The police have told you it should be taken seriously. Take it seriously.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 02/01/2019 11:10

I would
100%

Stick up
For yourself OP

You do not deserve this and NHS staff shouldn’t get this . Makes
My boood boil actually

Flowers
NailsNeedDoing · 02/01/2019 11:10

My initial response would be prosecute, without a doubt.

But then I did have a doubt and think that as a doctor you're likely to see people when they're at their very worst, and if you think it's likely that this person was suffering with mental health problems that could well have been exacerbated at this time of year and was acting out of desperation then I'd be inclined to let it go and try and ensure they get the help they need instead. Only you can judge whether this man was being a nasty bastard or whether he was acting out of genuine suffering.

DannyWallace · 02/01/2019 11:10

Ex HCP here.
Please do. And I'm so sorry that this happened to you Thanks

delboysskinandblister · 02/01/2019 11:12

Definitely prosecute. Nip this in the bud now. If you don't and something worse happens it will be harder to be taken seriously if you are asked ''why didn't you address this at the time?'' He could do this to someone else aswell. It also starts a paper trail for your own protection and his behaviour. I also think you would feel better and supported if you do this.

AnotherShirtRuined · 02/01/2019 11:13

Please prosecute. If the patient does indeed have mental health issues it could be what prompts him into getting help and would thus be a kindness. Also, that kind of behaviour should never go unchallenged.

ViolaLucyofTirol · 02/01/2019 11:15

nails I see your point, but if there is an investigation then this will come out. I think we need to step away from the HCP should just expect/put up with it because X/y/z.

EerieSilence · 02/01/2019 11:15

Prosecute. Most definitely.

Suziepoozie · 02/01/2019 11:16

I would prosecute but the only thing I was thinking that goes against this was what was he looking for - was it a defib machine? (The one mile away thing made me think of that)

That made me wonder what was going through his head if it was an emergency. But I say prosecute, it’s unacceptable to treat people that way.

Ringdonna · 02/01/2019 11:17

Absolutely, I worked in a branch of the NHS for 23 years and there should be zero tolerance for violence against health service staff.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 02/01/2019 11:17

If you prosecute will it result in a conviction or a slap on the wrist - thereby telling him he can do what he wants?

inlectorecumbit · 02/01/2019 11:18

I was sexually assaulted by a patient a few years ago- l am a ANP. Police were called and he was visited by them at home where he did not deny the charges, l didn't press ahead with a prosecution despite being advised by the police to do so.
He was removed from the practice list and registered in a nearby surgery, he offended again 2 years later.
I regret not following through with the police's advice as perhaps this second assault could have been prevented.
Please go ahead OP

MotherOfDragonite · 02/01/2019 11:18

If you have the strength to do it, prosecute to make sure this doesn't happen to others. It's not unreasonable at all.

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 02/01/2019 11:19

Prosecute if you have the energy. You are not being vindictive or wasting time, you are protecting other people from a dangerous man. He threatened you and he was physically violent if he threw something at you. Next time may be worse for someone else.

I am shocked that anyone would suggest that a GP should let dangerous behaviour go because of mental health problems. If the man who threatened and attacked the OP has diagnosable mental health problems then that's for the court to deal with. Short of getting him sectioned there is no magic source of "help" that a GP can call on.

Original poster
lilybetsy · 02/01/2019 11:20

Thanks everyone. I have decided to go ahead. I wrote a statement at the time. I have a habit of 'seeing both sides' and whist I do think this person has problems, think drug and alcohol problems, that is not a reason for aggression to a HCP who was trying to help him.

I am ok, but my receptionist who is young, was seriously shaken up and for her as much as anything I intend to proceed and stand up for the right to work in safety.

Bluefolder I am on RGP !

OP posts:
KitKat1985 · 02/01/2019 11:20

I'm a NHS nurse who works in mental health and have been assaulted many times. I would always prosecute in the case of people who have capacity to understand what they are doing. We all have the right to go to work and not be sworn out, threatened or have things thrown at us.

ViolaLucyofTirol · 02/01/2019 11:21

I can't see it being a defib machine- I'd assume I that respect those in the surgery would support with CPR?

delboysskinandblister · 02/01/2019 11:22

p.s whatever his mental condition if he had done this to a police officer he would have been prosecuted immediately.

Swipe left for the next trending thread