Some emergency departments installing AI weapons detection amid rising violence – CTV

April 21, 2025

TORONTO — London Health Sciences Centre is the latest Canadian hospital to install a weapons detection system in its emergency department as health-care workers across the country continue to grapple with increasing violence.

The southwestern Ontario health-care network started using one of the artificial intelligence-driven systems at its University Hospital site on April 15 and will install a second one at Victoria Hospital on May 6.

The head of the health sciences centre, David Musyj, said AI weapons detectors were already under discussion when he started last May.

But he said the catalyst to act happened last December, when a gunman chased someone into the hospital.

“We’d be fooling ourselves if we think somehow we’re immune from the violence that’s taking place outside of our four walls,” said Musyj in an interview.

“We have to appreciate that and recognize that is occurring inside the hospital as well.”

Everyone entering the emergency department walks through the detector. Unlike a standard metal detector, the AI is trained to specifically recognize items of concern such as knives and guns.

Read more: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/some-emergency-departments-installing-ai-weapons-detection-amid-rising-violence/