A Moray mother who sank her teeth into a hospital nurse has been ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work.
Cassandra Asher was admitted to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin after swallowing a near-fatal cocktail of drink and ecstasy during a night out.
The 34-year-old bit the nurse as she was receiving life-saving treatment in the hospital’s accident and emergency unit.
Last night the Royal College of Nursing welcomed the sentence, saying it was “shocking” that health care workers were coming under attack while trying to care for sick and injured people.
Asher had previously admitted the offence at Elgin Sheriff Court in May.
Sentencing was delayed until yesterday so social workers could carry out a report on her background.
Solicitor Robert Cruickshank told Sheriff Susan Raeburn his client had lost control of herself after suffering a strong reaction to the party drug.
He added that she remembered nothing about the night of the offence but was deeply embarrassed about what had happened.
He said: “She is full of remorse and regret for what she did.”
Asher, of 25 Elgin Road, Lossiemouth, had been drinking heavily and had also taken an ecstasy tablet on a night out with friends before she was admitted to the hospital in the early hours of September 28.
The medical team were attempting to stabilise her condition by putting her into an induced coma when she bit down on the arms of one of the nurses as they tried to put a needle into her body.
The call centre worker, who has a 10-year-old daughter, was later taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary’s intensive care unit.
In a letter to the court, Asher stressed her deep remorse.
She said: “I really appreciate the skill of the medical staff at Dr Gray’s Hospital and I am ashamed about my bad behaviour.”
The Royal College of Nursing’s professional officer for Grampian, Colin Poolman, said he was satisfied with the outcome.
“One assault on a nurse or any other health care worker is one assault too many,” he said.
“It’s shocking that staff, who are run off their feet trying to treat and care for people who are sick or injured, are being subject to attack.
“Health boards have policies in place to deal with these distressing situations and must always listen to their staff and always support them to report all incidences of violence to the police.
“Health boards also have a duty of care to protect their staff from attack and should make clear to patients and their families that they have a zero tolerance approach to any harassment or violence.
“Clearly, the correct process was followed in this case.”
