Doctor injured in MGH attack returns home

Globe staff photo by Pat Greenhouse

Dr. Astrid Desrosiers (left) assisted by an unidentified woman at Desrosiers home in Belmont today.

By David Abel, Globe Staff

The psychiatrist stabbed by a patient last month at a Massachusetts General Hospital clinic returned to her Belmont home today.

Dr. Astrid Desrosiers has recovered from the injuries she suffered on Oct. 27, when she was repeatedly attacked by her patient Jay Carciero, 37, of Reading, police say. Off-duty security guard Paul Langone responded and fatally shot Carciero.

Just before noon, Desrosiers exited a vehicle driven by her husband, Claude, and went into the house without commenting to reporters. She appeared to be splints on both arms. Mylar balloons that say "Welcome Home" lined the walk.

"She's just happy to be back home,'' her husband said. "She looks forward to getting back to her patients. She loves her patients.''

She isn't sure when she will return to work. "We're going to have to take it one day at a time,'' he said.

He said she wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and for the help from colleagues at MGH.

After a preliminary investigation, prosecutors determined that Langone's shooting of Carciero was justified that day in the hospital's bipolar clinic and research program at 50 Staniford St.