A shocking attack at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital has left 67-year-old nurse Leelamma Lal with severe injuries, while 33-year-old psychiatric patient Stephen Scantlebury now faces charges of attempted second-degree murder with a hate crime enhancement.
According to authorities, Scantlebury assaulted Lal last Tuesday, causing multiple facial fractures, a broken collarbone, and brain bleeding. The brutal attack, which lasted one to two minutes, was captured on hospital surveillance footage.
Lal’s daughter, Cindy Joseph, described the extent of her mother's injuries: "She had subdural and sporadic brain bleeding, the right side of her face was fully fractured... She was intubated, unconscious, with severe bruising and swelling in her eyes. I barely recognized her."
The affidavit also revealed racist remarks made by Scantlebury after the attack, stating: "Indians are bad" and "I just beat the (expletive) out of an Indian doctor."
During a pre-trial detention hearing, Palm Beach County Deputy Sgt. Beth Newcomb testified about Scantlebury’s comments, while Lal’s daughter emphasized the severity of her mother’s injuries.
Scantlebury's wife testified that he had been experiencing paranoia before the incident, believing their home was bugged and that he was under surveillance. However, the judge denied a request to transfer him to a mental health facility, calling it "premature."
Call for Stronger Protections for Healthcare Workers
The attack has sparked widespread concern over the safety of medical professionals, leading to a petition demanding stricter security measures and harsher penalties for assaults on healthcare workers. The petition has already garnered over 10,000 signatures in just three days.
Dr. Cheryl Thomas-Harcum, one of the petition organizers, stated: "Leela devoted her life to this profession, and at the tail end of her career, she had to endure something so vicious."
Dr. Manju Samuel, advisory board chair of the Indian Nurses Association of South Florida, urged lawmakers to take action: "There are no specific laws to protect healthcare staff. That deficiency must be addressed."
Lal remains in intensive care, still on ventilator support.
