After the attack: MGH security shares experience

On October 27, 2009, Jay Carciero, a psychiatric patient receiving treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, attacked Astrid Desrosiers, MD, a psychiatric physician. After repeatedly attacking ­Desrosiers with a knife, Carciero was shot by an off-­duty security officer who did not work for MGH. ­Carciero and Desrosiers were brought to MGH’s ED.

It was a terrible incident, and MGH studied it and made changes to some policies and procedures to ensure safety in the future. However, Bonnie Michelman, CPP, ­CHPA, director of MGH Police, Security, and Outside Services, says ultimately, it was a very unpredictable and unforeseeable event.