Harsh realities like staff shortages, poor hiring practices, and neglected training are making hospitals dangerous places. Safeguards for patients are often lagging. For instance, HCA Florida Citrus Hospital's policy for handling sexual misconduct cases is detailed but poor execution might have let a nurse assault a patient in 2021. Detailed protocols should be followed strictly, starting with immediate suspension of the accused and reporting to law enforcement. Regulators found unreported incidents in some hospitals. A Florida state report in 2019 revealed that BayCare’s Morton Plant Hospital did not notify authorities about several patient complaints of misconduct. These issues highlight a broader problem: hospitals need better enforcement of their own rules and stricter accountability to keep patients safe.
