LOXAHATCHEE, FL – A nurse at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital faces permanent blindness after an alleged unprovoked attack by a patient under psychiatric care, according to local authorities.
Stephen Eric Scantlebury, 33, was being treated under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows for involuntary detention of individuals for mental health assessments. The violent incident unfolded last Tuesday when the nurse entered Scantlebury’s room on the hospital’s third floor. Witnesses reported that without warning, Scantlebury leaped from his bed and assaulted the nurse, delivering several severe punches to her face.
The abrupt outbreak of violence prompted hospital staff to intervene, yelling for Scantlebury to cease the attack. Following the assault, Scantlebury fled the scene, making his way down a stairwell and out of the hospital.
He was seen running through a nearby parking lot, attempting to elude authorities while still wearing medical patches. Local video footage captured the dramatic moment when deputies confronted him on Southern Boulevard, resulting in his immediate arrest.
The nurse, whose identity is withheld for privacy, was airlifted to another medical facility and remains in critical condition. Medical professionals have relayed grim news regarding her injuries, noting that she has multiple facial fractures and is likely to lose vision in both eyes.
Reports indicate that prior to the incident, Scantlebury exhibited signs of paranoia and irrational behavior, which prompted his initial detention under the mental health statute. Following the attack, law enforcement officials have charged him with attempted murder, and he remains hospitalized under observation.
HCA Florida Healthcare released a statement expressing deep concern for the affected nurse and emphasizing their support for hospital staff reeling from the traumatic event. The statement underscored the necessity for swift action to address such incidents, which can unfold in mere seconds.
The Florida Nurses Association has voiced alarm over the safety threats healthcare workers face nationwide. Willa Fuller, the association’s executive director, stressed the urgency of implementing protective measures to curb violence against nurses, highlighting the need for comprehensive safety strategies involving direct care providers.
Scantlebury is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday as proceedings in the case continue to unfold.