Background: St. Mary”s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, Ga. (Google Maps). Inset: Steven Muscoreil (Franklin County Sheriff’s Office).

Dr. Steven Muscoreil, who was serving as a general surgeon at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, Georgia, reportedly became involved in a heated exchange with a patient on January 8. The incident occurred when Muscoreil discussed a procedure with the patient over the phone, according to an incident report provided by WYFF, a local NBC affiliate. The patient alleged that Muscoreil grew angry and raised his voice after she voiced concerns about her treatment.

Following the phone call, Muscoreil allegedly entered the patient’s hospital room, where she was recuperating, and “charged toward her in an aggressive manner as if he was going to strike her,” the report states. Two nurses who witnessed the incident told police that Muscoreil approached the patient and began yelling at her. One nurse noted that the shouting was audible from the hallway, as reported by WNEG Radio.

The nurses corroborated the patient’s account of Muscoreil’s allegedly hostile conduct when questioned by the police. One of the nurses stated she had to physically push the doctor away to protect the patient, who was confined to her bed, from further confrontation.

When the police spoke with the nurses, they corroborated the patient’s story about Muscoreil’s allegedly aggressive behavior. One of the nurses told police that she physically intervened by pushing him away from the bedridden patient.

Precise details about what was discussed during the conversation between the patient and Muscoreil were not provided.

Muscoreil was arrested and charged with simple assault. He was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center.

In a statement to local Fox affiliate WHNS, St. Mary’s Health Care System said that Muscoreil was not an employee at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital and was no longer providing medical services there.