Doctor Attacked by Patient's Son Shares His Story

The Attack and Its Aftermath

• 🤕 Dr. Steven Silvers recounts being attacked from behind by the son of a patient, an incident he only remembers from video footage.
• 🏥 He woke up in the emergency room with multiple rib and facial fractures, a broken clavicle, and brain bleeds.
• 📺 The brutal attack, which occurred in October 2024 at Mount Sinai Medical Center, made national headlines.

The Patient's Son's Motive

• 🗣️ The attacker, 19-year-old Ventura Perez Del Castillo, confronted Dr. Silvers about his mother not receiving enough pain medication.
• ❓ Dr. Silvers tried to ascertain the mother's identity, as he runs a small practice and prioritizes personalized care for patients in pain.
• ⚖️ Del Castillo later told police he was upset about the medication his mother was given.

Disputed Patient Account

• ⚠️ The attacker's mother claimed Dr. Silvers gave her opioids during a procedure she didn't want, and that she had expressed her unhappiness.
• 🚫 Dr. Silvers refutes this, explaining that administering narcotics requires patient consent and that it's impossible to do so against their will.
• 🤔 He questions why the patient would return to his office twice months later if she was truly unhappy with his care.

Doctor's Standing and Recovery

• ✅ Dr. Silvers has been a licensed physician for 40 years with no disciplinary history, and has been delivering babies at Mount Sinai since 1989.
• 😔 He accepts Del Castillo's apology but hopes the young man can have a better life, advising parents to be mindful of what they tell their children.
• 💪 Despite experiencing sharp pain reminders, Dr. Silvers is back to seeing patients, learning to accept help from friends, family, and his rabbi.