A retired physician with experience at a major Canadian hospital has issued a stark warning: emergency room staff will abandon their posts if escalating violence from patients is not met with decisive action, including potentially arming personnel with tasers.
A Call for Immediate Action on ER Violence
Dr. Robert H. Brown, a physician who previously worked extensively in the emergency department at St. Paul's Hospital, expressed profound concern after reading about violent incidents against healthcare workers. Writing from North Saanich, British Columbia, in a letter published on January 17, 2026, Dr. Brown stated that words and meetings are insufficient to address the severe abuse outlined in recent reports.
He acknowledges that the Minister of Health is considering some action, but Dr. Brown advocates for much more direct measures. His central proposal is clear: "If I had the authority to do it, I would have all emergency room personnel trained in the use of tasers, and I would have them equipped with these devices."
Proposed Protocol: From Taser to Jail Cell
Dr. Brown outlines a specific protocol for dealing with aggressive patients. He argues that if a patient exhibits violent behaviour that is not immediately controlled, using a taser to subdue them is appropriate. Following that, the patient should be handcuffed and escorted out of the emergency room by police.
Drawing on his own experience working in maximum security prisons, Dr. Brown suggests that if such a patient still requires medical attention, it could be administered in a jail cell while they are secured with handcuffs and ankle cuffs. "It is easy to examine and take care of patients who are handcuffed and in leg irons," he writes, emphasizing that safety for staff must be the priority.
The Stakes: A Potential Staff Exodus
The core of Dr. Brown's warning is a looming staffing crisis. He states unequivocally that if authorities fail to get control of the situation, it is a certainty that staff will abandon emergency rooms. This dire prediction underscores the severity of the working conditions and the urgent need for solutions that go beyond policy discussions.
Dr. Brown's letter concludes with a simple, powerful demand: "Action is required." His controversial recommendations highlight the desperate measures some frontline workers believe are necessary to ensure their own safety and the continued operation of critical emergency services.
