Dr. James P. Tierney, DO

I was visiting my grandmother at her hospital room at Charleston General. I am from out of state. My grandmother was 96 years old. I walked into the corridor outside her room on the 3rd floor after spending the night with her. A woman I had never seen pointed a gun at my head and threatened to kill me, she made me beg and pray for my life. She was disarmed, the gun was unloaded and she was ushered to a room . The staff did not respond, call the police or bring security to the floor I was told to get out of the hospital, I refused to leave my grandmother I text messaged the US Secret Service on L Street in Washington DC because I had a conversation with an Agent at that office earlier in the week and the hospital appeared to be covering up the incident, I called police, callled hospital administration wrote a letter to the hospital and sent e-mail through the hospital web page as well as to the Charleston Police Department.
The hospital is not safe and refused to respond to e-mail through the web site they advertise as a service to the public. I have a case number, finally, but the hospital did not report the crime immediately. I think the priorities, adding a new wing and paying for television commercials are in the wrong place. The hospital canceled one emergency security training session, the hospital does not consistently enforce visitor pass and sign in procedures, the hospial does not have regularly scheduled security patrols in the hallways, or metal detectors or monitors. This hospital is below industry standard regarding security. Both of my assailants were wearing scrubs. I was treated with tremendous contempt when on future emergency visits with my grandmother I asked for additional security. The hospital failed to inform my grandmother's medical team and did not assist me when I asked for help with her after the incident happened I had to return with her to CAMC They refuse to admit the problem and didn't file a police report immediately. I would never take another family member to the hospital if I had a choice in the matter. After 6 months I still don't know when the trial will be held. The prosecutor does not answer my inquiries and neither do the police department personnel.