Violence against doctors is increasing: When patients become a danger
Violence against doctors is increasing: When patients become a danger
More and more doctors are experiencing violence. An incident in Düsseldorf is not an isolated case, but part of a worrying trend.
"A 34-year-old man enters a hospital in Düsseldorf and pretends to be a private patient. But the staff already know him - he doesn't pay his bills and is known for benefit fraud. When the clinic informs the police, it turns out that there is an arrest warrant out for the man for unpaid fines.
"A 34-year-old man enters a hospital in Düsseldorf and pretends to be a private patient. But the staff already know him - he doesn't pay his bills and is known for benefit fraud. When the clinic informs the police, it turns out that there is an arrest warrant out for the man for unpaid fines.
Suddenly he pulls out a knife, threatens the officers and flees into the hospital building. On the seventh floor, where cancer patients are treated, he threatens a doctor before escaping into the stairwell. The use of a taser is ineffective. Only a shot in the leg by a police officer puts him out of action. He was treated in the same hospital and remains at large. He is now under investigation for threats and fraud."
Does the violence come primarily from male foreigners from certain regions?
The true causes of this trend are hardly reported in many media outlets and statistics cannot be kept because the doctors concerned are bound by confidentiality.
According to an online survey by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, reported by "Welt", 80 percent of the doctors surveyed experienced insults or threats in 2023. 14 percent of these incidents were reported to the police. Even more alarming: 43 percent of participants reported physical violence, ranging from kicking and shoving to serious attacks. A total of 7,600 doctors, psychotherapists and medical assistants took part in the survey. A study by the Westphalia-Lippe Medical Association produced similar results: Almost every second doctor has experienced violence in their daily work.
A family doctor at the limit:
A particularly drastic case occurred in Wolfenbüttel. General practitioner Andreas Schimke describes in the "Braunschweiger Zeitung" how his everyday working life has changed dramatically: "It is unbearable." Insults are the order of the day, and he is considering giving up his practice. At the end of January, he was knocked down by a patient without warning, lost consciousness and had to be treated in hospital for several hours. He was out of action for two weeks. He also received threats against himself and his family.
A particularly drastic case occurred in Wolfenbüttel. General practitioner Andreas Schimke describes in the "Braunschweiger Zeitung" how his everyday working life has changed dramatically: "It is unbearable." Insults are the order of the day, and he is considering giving up his practice. At the end of January, he was knocked down by a patient without warning, lost consciousness and had to be treated in hospital for several hours. He was out of action for two weeks. He also received threats against himself and his family.
Police protection for doctor's offices?
Schimke is disappointed about the lack of consequences: "As a victim, I don't feel represented by the system." According to the police, the suspected perpetrator, a 24-year-old, is being examined by a specialist but remains at large. Although the police now regularly check the area around his practice, Schimke stresses: "I don't feel sufficiently protected and I'm afraid." He calls for a social debate and tougher punishments for violent offenders. Attacks on medical staff should not be dismissed as trivial, but should be punished as serious crimes.
Schimke is disappointed about the lack of consequences: "As a victim, I don't feel represented by the system." According to the police, the suspected perpetrator, a 24-year-old, is being examined by a specialist but remains at large. Although the police now regularly check the area around his practice, Schimke stresses: "I don't feel sufficiently protected and I'm afraid." He calls for a social debate and tougher punishments for violent offenders. Attacks on medical staff should not be dismissed as trivial, but should be punished as serious crimes.
Who are the perpetrators? Findings from Switzerland:
Due to medical confidentiality, German doctors rarely provide information about the origin of the perpetrators. But there are figures from Switzerland: According to the magazine "Weltwoche", 490 violent crimes were registered in hospitals there in 2023, including simple and serious bodily harm - a doubling in just three years. The data show that the violence is mainly committed by male foreigners from certain regions. But the real causes of this trend are hardly reported in many media.
Due to medical confidentiality, German doctors rarely provide information about the origin of the perpetrators. But there are figures from Switzerland: According to the magazine "Weltwoche", 490 violent crimes were registered in hospitals there in 2023, including simple and serious bodily harm - a doubling in just three years. The data show that the violence is mainly committed by male foreigners from certain regions. But the real causes of this trend are hardly reported in many media.
This development is worrying. Violence against doctors and medical staff must not become the norm – protective measures and a clear social response are needed.
Source: MF_Editorial
Source: MF_Editorial
