LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. – New details have come to light regarding the brutal attack on a nurse by a patient that resulted in her being in critical condition. Stephen Eric Scantlebury, 33, is currently facing attempted second-degree murder charges after the assault on a nurse at HCA Palms West Hospital in Loxahatchee. The incident, which took place on February 18, led to Scantlebury’s arrest at the hospital, located on Southern Boulevard.
Scantlebury, who was a patient under the Baker Act, reportedly launched a violent attack on the nurse by repeatedly hitting her in the face. The nurse sustained severe injuries, with almost every bone in her face broken, raising concerns about potential loss of vision in both eyes. The nurse had to be airlifted to St. Mary’s Medical Center Trauma Center in West Palm Beach for urgent medical attention.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office revealed that a hate crime enhancement is being considered, potentially resulting in a harsher penalty if Scantlebury is convicted. The incident was observed by multiple hospital staff members, with Scantlebury captured on the hospital’s camera system. Witnesses who recorded cellphone footage described the chaotic scene outside the hospital.
HCA Florida Healthcare expressed their support for the injured nurse and the hospital staff, acknowledging the quick response of law enforcement and their collaboration in the ongoing investigation. Concerns have been raised about the presence of Scantlebury, a Baker Act patient, at Palms West, a facility not designated for psychiatric holds by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Experts, including Baker Act attorney Mark Astor, have questioned the decision to bring Scantlebury to a facility ill-equipped to handle mentally unstable patients. The incident has reignited discussions about workplace violence in hospitals, with nurses facing increasing risks of being attacked. Dr. Daniel Bober, Chief of Psychiatry at Memorial Regional Healthcare, highlighted the importance of specialized training for handling such situations.