The social worker stabbed at San Francisco General Hospital has died of his injuries, officials said Saturday.
Jessica Christian/S.F. Chronicle
The social worker stabbed at San Francisco General Hospital this week by a man authorities said was a patient has died of his injuries, according to the Department of Public Health.
DPH officials, in an emailed statement, said the tragedy had “deeply impacted” their workforce.
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“Our deepest sympathies are with the individual’s family, loved ones, colleagues, and the entire hospital and DPH community as we mourn this devastating loss,” the statement said. “Hundreds of people have come forward over the past several days to offer support, reflecting the profound impact our colleague had as a caregiver, friend, family member, and human being. Their dedication to serving others was evident in every aspect of their work, and they will be deeply missed.”
Authorities have not yet identified the victim.
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In an email to staff obtained by the Chronicle, DPH Director Daniel Tsai said he had been “deeply moved by the extraordinary outpouring of love, compassion, and support” for the victim and the “profound unity” shown by staff.
“We will keep supporting our (S.F. General) and DPH communities during this painful time and stay committed to safety,” he said. “We are reviewing all locations and putting new safety protocols in place.”
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A colleague of the social worker said he was employed by the county for more than 12 years.
“He’s one of the kindest, most compassionate people, a luminous man,” the colleague said, asking not to be identified without permission to speak to the media. “He loved everyone. It would of course be he who immediately stepped up to try to help the patient” who allegedly attacked him.
Wilfredo Tortolero-Arriechi, 34, has been arrested in the stabbing. The San Francisco Police Department said its homicide detail is now leading the investigation, an SFPD spokesperson said, and homicide investigators will be updating the charges upon review of the case.
Tortolero-Arriechi was in sheriff custody and being held without bail on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and other offenses, jail records show.
Authorities say Tortolero-Arriechi stabbed the social worker in the neck and shoulder around 1:30 p.m. Thursday. He was allegedly looking for one of the clinic’s doctors, according to a person familiar with the incident.
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The fatal assault has drawn scrutiny and criticism from hospital staff, who told the Chronicle they had raised concerns about Tortolero-Arriechi after they say he threatened multiple hospital employees in the weeks leading up to the stabbing.
Hours before the stabbing, Tortolero-Arriechi went to the San Francisco City Clinic, a sexual health facility South of Market, to look for the doctor he was targeting, according to an employee who was not authorized to speak publicly about the incident. The employee was granted anonymity in accordance with Chronicle policies.
The doctor works at both facilities, the source said. A director at City Clinic hid the doctor and told Tortolero-Arriechi the doctor wasn’t there.
Tortolero-Arriechi then told the director he would seek out the doctor at Ward 86, San Francisco General Hospital’s long-term HIV clinic, the person said.
DPH officials said the agency and S.F. General have added security, limited access points and sped up installation of weapons detection systems at the facility, as well as conducting “a full investigation” into the tragedy, and pledged to make “both immediate and long-term safety improvements at all our facilities.”
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“This tragic event underscores the urgency of our ongoing efforts to strengthen protections for every member of our workforce,” DPH officials said in a statement. “We are committed to doing everything necessary to ensure that no one fears for their safety while providing care to the people of San Francisco.”
After news of the victim’s death became public, UPTE President Dan Russell said union members were devastated by the loss of their colleague, and he called for a “full investigation” and “reliable, consistent, and transparent safety protocols” to protect hospital workers.
Russell said workers have tried to raise concerns about safety issues at the hospital for years, only to be assaulted and traumatized, enduring dangerous working conditions for far too long.
“We demand that city, county, hospital, and UC leadership finally address the rampant understaffing and unjust hiring practices that put workers in danger and hinder both the city and workers’ efforts to address the mental health crisis on our streets,” he said. “We owe our colleague and friend more than grief. We owe them change.”
Social worker Jesse Escalante worked at S.F. General for three years, including in the same building as the victim. The assault on his former colleague came amid ongoing safety issues at the hospital, he said, noting that before the stabbing there had not been any metal detectors at the clinic where the assault took place and that understaffing was a chronic issue.
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Staff felt “unsupported in maintaining safety around highly acute patients,” he said, adding that the slaying has left him and many others angry and grieving.
“Social workers are the backbone of the mental health care system,” he said. “They have a lot of love, compassion and empathy in their hearts, they want to make the world a better place. This should never happen to anyone. … I hope (this tragedy) emphasizes how much more support we need to give to our social workers and health care workers.”