Va. Hospital Had Duty to Protect ER Patient From Attack

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital must answer a complaint alleging it failed to protect an emergency room patient from a violent attack.

The hospital had a duty to protect its patient, even though no “imminent probability of harm” or specific threat to the victim existed, the Virginia Circuit Court said Dec. 18.

It also didn’t matter that the alleged attacker hadn’t been admitted to the hospital himself.

Gordey Denisenko checked into Sentara’s emergency room on Oct. 9, 2015. While he was waiting, Joseph Dauria, returned to the waiting room after being seen by a triage nurse.

Duria, without provocation, allegedly attacked ...