In an emergency room setting, if a person asks about wait times while looking at his watch, does this indicate potential for violence?

In this scenario, the individual asking about wait times while frequently checking their watch does not inherently indicate a potential for violence. Such behavior can reflect impatience or concern about time rather than aggression. Context matters significantly in assessing the potential for violence; while certain behaviors may raise red flags, an isolated action of checking the watch does not provide sufficient evidence to conclude that someone is likely to become violent. Alarm can stem from various factors—stress, urgency, or frustration with medical delays—but these feelings do not automatically translate to violent behavior.

Moreover, potential indicators of violence typically involve more concerning behaviors, such as aggressive language, yelling, or physical agitation. In this case, the action of inquiring about wait times appears to be a normal and reasonable behavior for someone seeking timely medical care. Thus, without additional contextual cues or disturbing behaviors, it's appropriate to determine that this alone does not indicate a risk of violence.