Jason Smith, MD, PhD, chief medical officer for University of Louisville (Ky.) Health, is pleading for policymakers to "do something" about gun violence after a shooting that killed five people at a bank in downtown Louisville, The Hill reported.
"To everyone who helps makes policy … I would simply ask you to do something. Because doing nothing, which is what we have been doing, is not working," Dr. Smith said at an April 11 news conference, according to the publication.
The physician involved in treating the shooting victims also said staff "barely had to adjust our operating room schedule to be able to do this" because gun violence is so frequent.
"For 15 years I've cared for victims of violence and gunshot wounds. And people say 'I'm tired,' but ill — it's more than tired. I'm weary," Dr. Smith said, according to The Hill. "There's only so many times you can walk into a room and tell someone they're not coming home tomorrow.
"And it just breaks your heart. When you hear someone screaming, 'Mommy' or 'Daddy,' it just becomes too hard day in and day out to be able to do that."
The shooting occurred at Old National Bank on April 10. The shooter, whom police identified as Connor Sturgeon, 25, used an AR-15 rifle; five people were killed and at least eight others were wounded, The New York Times reported. Mr. Sturgeon died after exchanging fire with officers, police said, according to the newspaper.
Healthcare leaders across the U.S. have gotten involved in addressing gun violence. This includes CEOs from some of the nation's largest health systems who have pledged to use their voices and resources to tackle the issue.