Massachusetts bill aims to increase penalty for attacking health care workers
The stabbing of an emergency medical technician in Boston this month to a before the Massachusetts legislature that would increase the penalty for assaulting a health care worker. According to the advocacy group Stop Healthcare Violence, assaulting a health care worker is a felony in most states but not in Massachusetts. 鈥淭o me [the legislation] really sends a dual message,鈥 the bill鈥檚 co-sponsor Rep. Paul Tucker, D-Salem, told CBS Boston. 鈥淥ne is to those who would think about assaulting a worker in their capacity, in their job, that won鈥檛 be tolerated. Two, I think it says to the health care workers themselves鈥攚hether it be nurses, health care providers鈥攖hat we want to make sure that we protect you as well. We have to protect those who protect us.鈥 (CBS Boston , 7/11/19)