MARCH 2026 | 41 THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff. LEGAL PROTECTIONS: INADEQUATE AND UNDERENFORCED Forty states, including Oklahoma, have established some form of criminal penalty for assaulting nurses. However, seven of these states only apply protections when the assault takes place in emergency or mental health facilities. Despite these laws, statistics show that very few offenders face justice. Law enforcement is often reluctant to file police reports when assaults occur in medical facilities, typically citing the potential mitigating factor of the offender having an underlying medical condition. Even when reports are filed, authorities rarely bring charges, and cases that reach the court system frequently result in dismissals or plea bargains.9 OKLAHOMA’S LEGAL FRAMEWORK Oklahoma Statute 21 O.S. §650.4 makes it a felony to assault a health care worker in the line of duty. Originally enacted May 30, 1990, and subsequently amended in 2000 and 2009, this statute was strengthened through the
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