Winthrop Man Charged with Assaulting Doctor at Canton-Potsdam Hospital
A Winthrop, New York man is facing felony charges after allegedly assaulting a physician at Canton-Potsdam Hospital early Wednesday morning. The incident highlights growing concerns about violence against healthcare workers and the safety of medical professionals.
A 63-year-old man, identified as Mark Horan, was taken into custody by Potsdam police and charged with second-degree assault, a felony. The alleged attack occured shortly after 1 a.m. in the hospital’s emergency room.
According to official reports, Horan was a patient in the ER when he began yelling at a nurse. Dr. Nektarios Konstantinopoulos intervened, attempting to de-escalate the situation. “I calmly told the man, ‘You need to calm down,'” Dr. Konstantinopoulos stated in his deposition to police. “the man replied saying, ‘Get out of my face!’ I again told the man that he needs to calm down.”
The situation escalated quickly. Dr. Konstantinopoulos reported to authorities that Horan then punched him in the face. Following the assault, the doctor immediately left the room, and hospital security and police were notified.
Horan was subsequently arraigned in potsdam Town Court and is currently being held at the St. Lawrence County jail on $15,000 bail. An order of protection has been issued to safeguard Dr.Konstantinopoulos. The motive for the assault remains under examination by Potsdam police, who are reviewing hospital security footage and interviewing witnesses.
This incident adds to a disturbing national trend of increasing aggression towards healthcare personnel. While the motivations behind the assault remain under investigation, it underscores the need for enhanced security measures and support systems for those working on the front lines of medical care.
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