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Grieving Avoidable Tragedies: Addressing the Murder of Alberto Rangel, LCSW
How can a person be murdered in a hospital, a place meant to be marked by healing and safety? This question demands an answer following the tragic death of Alberto Rangel, a dedicated social worker at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH). On December 6, 2025, Mr. Rangel was stabbed by a patient while on duty, sustaining injuries that led to his death two days later. His passing is a profound loss for his family, his colleagues and the entire city he served.
The Law Office of Scott Righthand, P.C., is my law firm that has served the people of San Francisco and the Bay Area community since 1992. Our office is downtown San Francisco and always has been. We love the City here, but when it or its agencies and departments are wrong or fail, as SFGH did here, it needs to be held accountable. That is what we do and have done over and over through the years. We represent individuals and families similar to the family of Alberto Rangel when they have been seriously or catastrophically injured or lost a loved one. Â My office is not on TV with late night ads. We are not LA lawyers. We are and have been at the center of change here in SF and all over the State for many years.
We believe that Mr. Rangel’s death was not just a horrific event but a failure of institutional responsibility. A hospital should be a safe environment for everyone who enters, especially the compassionate staff dedicated to helping others.
A Preventable Failure of Safety
San Francisco General Hospital has a long-standing reputation for providing excellent care to some of the most vulnerable and tragically injured individuals in our community. The staff works tirelessly to help patients who have been shot or stabbed, as well as those who are severely mentally impaired. This makes the hospital’s failure to protect its own employees even more devastating.
The circumstances surrounding Mr. Rangel’s death point to a clear lapse in security protocols.
- Known Risks: The hospital administration has been aware for years that violence is a persistent risk within its facilities.
- Inadequate Screening: The weapon used, a five-inch kitchen knife, could have been easily detected. Implementing simple, routine screening measures like metal-detecting wands for patients would have found the weapon.
- Lack of Protection: By failing to implement basic security measures, the hospital has placed its own dedicated staff, including doctors, nurses and therapists, directly in harm’s way.
Sadly, this is not the first violent incident to occur at SFGH. Despite prior events, it appears sufficient action has not been taken, or this tragedy would never have occurred. This is institutional negligence.
The Path to Accountability and Reform
Meaningful change often requires legal action to hold responsible parties accountable. A wrongful death lawsuit is not just about securing compensation for a grieving family; it can be a powerful tool to compel institutions to reform their policies and keep such a tragedy from happening again. Mr. Rangel’s family’s case has to potential to bring to light the specific security deficiencies and administrative oversights that led to Mr. Rangel’s death, forcing the hospital. We hope, lawsuit or no, the City and SFGH implement and enforce more stringent safety protocols at the end of the day. This will also be an element of justice for Mr. Rangel’s family and colleagues.
The entire San Francisco community deserves the assurance that SFGH is not only a center of medical excellence, but also a safe place to give and receive care. We hope to have the privilege of representing Mr. Rangel’s family to help them find answers and drive the necessary changes to protect our city’s healthcare providers.
Advocating for Justice for Victims of Negligence
We at The Law Office of Scott Righthand, P.C. understand how devastating these circumstances are. It is heartbreaking when any individual is harmed or killed due to someone else’s negligence. Our team is committed to fighting for those who have suffered, helping the victims of these incidents understand their rights and pursue the justice they deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured by another’s carelessness, we invite you to contact us today for a confidential consultation.
