Public expects physicians, nurses to protect them during active shooting events

Editor's Note

Results of a new national survey by the Hartford Consensus about views of the public and healthcare professionals on active shooter events in hospitals show that:

• 61% of the public and 62% of professionals believe physicians and nurses have a special duty to protect patients during an active shooting event.
• 39% of the public and 27% of professionals believe that physicians and nurses should accept a “high” or “very high” degree of personal risk to try to help patients who cannot get out of harm’s way.
• 45% of OR, 36% of ICU, and 22% of unit physicians and nurses believe a “high” or “very high” level of risk should be assumed to protect patients.

A total of 1,017 adults and 684 healthcare professionals were surveyed.

The Hartford Consensus is a result of the Joint Committee to Create a National Policy to Increase Survivability in Intentional Mass Casualty and Active Shooter Events, which is sponsored by the American College of Surgeons.