The death of Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Dr. Michael Davidson Tuesday night from gunshots wounds saddened many beyond Dr. Davidson’s colleagues at the Brigham. That a man of such talent, who dedicated his life to healing others, could be slain by someone within the walls of a facility that exists only to heal, not harm, seemed especially tragic.
By all accounts Dr. Davidson was a tremendously skilled surgeon, a good husband and father, and a valued friend to those who knew him. Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, the president of Brigham and Women’s wrote to the hospital staff, “Dr. Davidson was a wonderful and inspiring bright light and an outstanding cardiac surgeon who devoted his career to saving lives and improving the quality of life of every patient he cared for. It is truly devastating that his own life was taken in this horrible manner.”
Nearly all hospitals in Massachusetts – not just the large academic medical centers – have held “active shooter” preparedness drills, in which staffs work with local police departments, their own security staffs, and other first responders to deal with possible incidences of violence – especially those involving members of the public wielding guns. Boston Police praised the team at the Brigham for its response to the handgun violence within its doors.