BNA calls for stronger legal protection after nurse assault case

The Barbados Nurses Association (BNA) has expressed outrage over what it describes as a “slap in the face” to nurses following a recent court ruling that saw a man fined $400 for assaulting a nurse while she was on duty.

BNA President Dr Fay Parris said the fine imposed in the case of 22-year-old Josiah Lovell, who slapped 64-year-old nurse Hyacinth Green at the Randall Phillips Polyclinic last month, failed to reflect the seriousness of the offence or the trauma endured by the victim.

“While the BNA respects the independence of the judiciary, this decision sends a troubling message, that violence against nurses may be met with what appears to be minimal consequence,” Parris said. “The penalty must be sufficient to act as a deterrent, not merely a token response.”

Lovell, of Lancaster, St James, was on Tuesday ordered to pay $400 in compensation to Green after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had been remanded for 28 days and was released on $2,500 bail after paying the fine.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the BNA called for stronger legal protections for healthcare workers and a review of existing legislation to ensure such acts are classified appropriately. The association is also urging the introduction of insurance coverage and support systems for nurses affected by workplace trauma.

“Nurses are essential to the functioning of our healthcare system. To reduce the impact of a workplace assault to a nominal fine is to undervalue the contribution and dignity of those who care for the nation,” Parris said.

She added that the incident underscores the urgent need for accident and injury insurance for nurses, given the rising reports of workplace violence.
The BNA is also calling for public education to reinforce a zero-tolerance approach to violence in healthcare settings and is urging policymakers, legal authorities, and the public to stand with nurses in demanding stronger protections.

“No patient or relative has the right to physically assault a nurse or any healthcare worker,” the statement said. “Respect for nurses must be taught, modeled, and upheld across all sectors.”