Tewksbury Hospital vs. MA Dept of Health

The Massachusetts Department of Health wants to take away pepper spray and non-lethal restraints from Tewksbury State Hospital’s public safety officers. The state-run hospital has a large mental health patient population that includes criminal defendants who have psychiatric and behavioral issues. The hospital has a history of problematic incidents involving patients who’ve attacked healthcare workers. The nurses’ union that represents Tewksbury Hospital said the hospital’s public safety officers “absolutely need the tools” to keep the staff safe. MA Rep. David Robertson agrees and filed a petition pushing back on the state’s proposal. Rep. Robertson joined us to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.