Nearly 25,000 people have signed a petition requesting legislation to protect health care workers in the wake of the tragic murder of a nurse at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa.
Ada Doss was shot and killed last week by a man suffering from a mental episode.
The death sparked outrage among health workers who say the state does not do enough to provide adequate protection to those who work to help others.
The petition on Change.org includes a letter from an anonymous registered nurse at DCH to Gov. Kay Ivey, requesting that legislation be called “Ada’s Law.”
“Ada was murdered in the afternoon, in broad daylight,” the letter stated. “This tragedy proves that employee safety is not only a night-shift issue. Daylight did not protect her. Cameras did not protect her. Policies on paper did not protect her. Healthcare workers need real protection.”
A proposal outlines requirements of “Ada’s Law,” including secured employee parking, mandatory security escorts, armed security and lighting and visibility standards. The proposal also lists emergency protection stations with panic buttons, annual audits and whistleblower protections.
“Governor Ivey, healthcare workers spend our lives protecting others,” the letter continued. “We run toward emergencies. We care for strangers on the worst days of their lives. The least we should expect is to make it safely back to our cars and home to our families. Ada Doss should still be here.”
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