VIERA, Fla. – The Brevard County Sheriff's Office said a woman fatally shot herself while being treated Sunday at Viera Hospital.
The woman was admitted Saturday to the hospital's intensive care unit. The Sheriff's Office said the woman took out a gun that she brought to the hospital. The woman fired one shot, killing herself early Sunday.
As of Sunday night, investigators had not released the woman's name or give the reason she was taken to the hospital.
Health First released a statement on Sunday, emphasizing no one else was in danger.
"On Saturday, March 11, a patient was brought by ambulance to Viera Hospital and admitted to the ICU, bypassing our security screening processes. Early this morning, March 12, the patient suffered a fatal, self-inflicted gunshot wound with a weapon that was hidden in the patient's belongings. No associates, patients or visitors were injured or endangered during the incident. We are immediately implementing additional security screening procedures for patients who are admitted to our hospitals via ambulance. Our hearts and prayers go out to the patient’s family during this tragic time," said Matthew Gerrell, vice president of marketing and communications with Health First."
Health First also said it also added metal detectors and wands after the shooting at Parrish Medical Center in Titusville in July.
Slough William said he was admitted into the emergency room just a few hours after the shooting on Sunday, adding he was checked for weapons.
"He brought me here. We had to go through the security check to make sure I didn't have any weapons or anything on me," Williams said. "He had to go through the medal detector, whatever it is, but I didn't. But the guy just checked me and said, 'OK, fine,' because I was in a wheelchair and in such pain."
Williams also said that paramedics and doctors often make split-second decisions to save lives, so checking for weapons might be an afterthought.
"If you are talking about minutes or seconds to save someone's life, can you afford to, that's the big problem with it," Williams said.
Health First said it plans to work with their emergency medical service partners to better screen patients who are brought to the emergency room.