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Advocacy / Advocacy Action Center / Safety from Workplace Violence

You are entering webpages belonging to the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, which includes information and resources for Association advocacy efforts and the Political Action Committee of The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoPAC).

Safety from Workplace Violence

The AAOS is concerned about the rise in mass shootings and workplace violence.

  • In June 2022, an orthopaedic surgeon was among four people killed in a shooting at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
  • In July 2023, another orthopaedic surgeon was shot and killed at a clinic in Collierville, Tennessee.

This tragic loss of life and other instances of violence are becoming increasingly common in healthcare settings throughout the country, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only have physicians and other health care workers sustained significant harm during the pandemic, but this stress is significantly magnified when the patients they treat respond in an inappropriate and aggressive manner. Many have left the profession leaving staffing shortages across the country. Health care workers must be protected from violence, which is a serious threat that can delay patients’ access to quality care.

AAOS is supportive of the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act (H.R. 2584/S. 2768). This legislation would establish federal criminal penalties for assaulting or intimidating hospital employees or those contracted by a hospital, the same protections that apply to airport and airline employees.

Resources and AAOS Letters