UPDATED 2/28/24: On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Dr. Benjamin Mauck Act passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill will now proceed to the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee to await budget review. 

NASHVILLE, TENN. – The Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) and Memphis Medical Society (MMS) call for the passage of the Dr. Benjamin Mauck Act, set to be heard by the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 27. SB1709, sponsored by Joey Hensley (R – District 28) and HB1628, sponsored by Scott Cepicky (R – District 64) seeks to increase the penalty for committing aggravated assault against employees working in a healthcare setting. 

The Dr. Benjamin Mauck Act was brought to the General Assembly by the TMA to enact change following the tragic murder of Dr. Benjamin Mauck at the Campbell Clinic in Collierville, Tenn. in July of last year. Tennessee statute currently provides an enhanced penalty for assaulting first responders and nurses. The TMA and MMS believe other healthcare professionals, including physicians, should have the same protections extended to them to ensure violent offenders are held to the same consequential standard.

“Dr. Mauck’s death was tragic on so many levels - a father, husband, son, and brother first and foremost,” said Clint Cummins, CEO of the Memphis Medical Society. “Furthermore, he was a friend to me personally since the age of 10, a jovial and highly competent colleague to hundreds, and a compassionate physician to thousands of patients, many of whom needed a unique surgical procedure that he was one of a select few to be able to perform. I hope we all remember him that way and take every step within our power to limit these tragedies from happening in the future.”

If passed, the bill would increase the penalty for such offenses to a Class A misdemeanor for assault and a Class C felony for aggravated assault. The goal is to protect physicians and individuals employed within healthcare facilities. 

“We want our physicians and all health care workers to be safe in their place of work,” said Russ Miller, CEO of the Tennessee Medical Association. “Our work force is stretched thin and we cannot afford to lose team members to violence in the workplace. This bill tells our health care professionals that our State is standing up for them and their safety as they take care of Tennesseans.”

Battling the onslaught of assault on physicians is a primary legislative focus for the TMA during the second session of the 113th Tennessee General Assembly. The Tennessee Medical Association is a nonprofit professional organization for Tennessee physicians. TMA represents more than 10,000 Tennessee physicians and physicians-in-training. The organization advocates for public policies, laws and rules that promote healthcare safety and quality for all Tennesseans and improve the nonclinical aspects of practicing medicine. Learn more at tnmed.org.

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