Social worker fatally stabbed at SF hospital remembered by community as 'devoted to his patients'
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- We're learning more about the death of a social worker at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, who died two days after being stabbed by a man identified as a patient.
The victim is being remembered as a deeply caring person. The tragedy raises concerns about safety and security.
The community gathered to mourn outside Zuckerberg General Hospital Sunday evening, with candles in hand for 51-year-old Alberto Rangel, the UCSF social worker who died after being attacked by a patient earlier this week.
"I'll just say the social worker was one of the most beautiful people I've ever met in my life. Amazing clinician. Unbelievable loss for staff and community," said Julette Suarez, a social worker at San Francisco General.
Suarez was remembering her colleague, who police say was attacked and stabbed multiple times in the neck and shoulder, by a patient armed with a 5-inch kitchen knife. It happened Thursday, with the victim passing away from injuries Saturday.
RELATED: Social worker dies after stabbed by patient at SF General Hospital; suspect arrested: authorities
"For him to lose his life at work, when he was there to provide services to patients. It's just not right. It's not right. It's a betrayal," said Maddy Auble, who worked closely with Rangel in the HIV ward of the hospital. She was there when the attack happened on Thursday afternoon.
Suarez said the incident was devastating but should never have happened.
"Members have been raising safety concerns for a long time. Workers have been complaining about safety for years. This is something that should never have happened," Suarez said.
The suspect is now in sheriff's custody. The attack happened in the HIV ward of the hospital, a ward that does not have a metal detector.
Hospital staff had already raised safety concerns about a patient and requested deputy protection after a doctor in Ward 86 received threats. according to the union. The deputy was in a nearby room when he heard a disturbance and saw the patient in the hallway stabbing Rangel with a kitchen knife.
VIDEO: Fatal stabbing at SF General Hospital reignites safety concerns
Rangel suffered wounds to the neck and shoulder. Medical staff performed lifesaving measures, including CPR, and the victim was taken to an operating room in critical condition.
The day of the stabbing, the suspect reportedly went to the San Francisco City Clinic in SOMA to look for a doctor he was targeting. The doctor wasn't there, so he went to the general hospital.
"Alberto was there to help, and he was failed. He was failed by DPH, he was failed by the hospital, and he was failed by management. My coworkers asked for help," Auble said.
Union leaders are calling for a security review.
"We are demanding a thorough investigation into what allowed this to happen and what changes need to be made, so this never happens again," said Dan Russell, president of University Professional and Technical Employees.
RELATED: SF General strengthening security protocols after social worker fatally stabbed during attack
"Social workers have been raising the alarm about safety issues for years to be met with pretty much radio silence. And what I know, is our colleague and our friend and our loved one deserves more than our grief. They deserve change," said Chey Dean, UPTE co-chair.
The Department of Public Health said it's working with the hospital to strengthen security, having "already taken steps like adding more security, limiting access points and speeding up the installation of weapons detection systems."
The San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs' Association said it warned that such a tragedy would happen when the Department of Public Health cut deputy positions at the hospital.
In a statement, DSA President Ken Lomba said: "This was not a random, unforeseeable incident. ZSFGH's own data show years of serious assaults and weapons on campus. Deputies, nurses, and social workers told DPH that pulling deputies off high-risk units/posts and replacing them with unarmed cadets and distant response teams would get someone seriously hurt or killed. On December 4, that prediction came true."
Meanwhile, the community is shaken from social workers, to nurses and medical students.
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"I just pray for protection for everyone, peace, rest and healing. I want for the people needing care to come here and feel safe, and the people who are serving to be able to do their jobs and be safe too," said Carly Jones, a UCSF medical student.
"There are not really words to describe the hit to the community, not just the community of our union members but the community they served," Dean said.
And while they gathered in honor of Rangel, those who knew him well are remembering him this way:
"Alberto had so much more life to live. He was devoted to his patients. He loved his job. He was enthusiastic about what he did," Auble said.
The Department of Public Health says it is conducting a full investigation into the incident.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
