12th of March – European day for raising the awareness of violence over the healthcare workers
Doctor’s Chamber: Threatening the safety of the doctors is threatening the care for the patients
Aiming to raise the awareness of the violence over the doctors and the healthcare workers and to initiate undertaking measures for its decrease, the Doctor’s Chamber joins the commemoration of the 12th of March, the European day against the violence over the healthcare workers, which this year is celebrated for the fourth time.
The World Health Organization notifies that up to 38% of the healthcare workers are victims of physical violence at a certain moment of their career, and many more are exposed to verbal and online abuse. This king of aggression may cause devastating consequences, including physical injuries, influences over their mental health, and in most extreme cases, even death.
The questionnaire carried out by the Doctor’s Chamber in the previous year shows that 77,9% of the doctors confirmed that they have experienced physical or verbal violence at work during their working career. 79,9% have answered that they have been victims of verbal violence including shouting and insulting, 34,5% have been victims of verbal violence with threats for physical violence as well, 43 doctors, or 5,2%, have been exposed to physical violence without physical injuries, and 13 doctors, or 1,6 % have experienced physical violence with injuries.
“It is necessary for the healthcare workers to feel safe in their working environment, relieved from the pressure of endangerment in order to provide optimal and quality services for treatment of patients. The patients and doctors must promote a partner relationship of confidence and cooperation which is in best interest of the treatment of the patients. Therefore, anent the 12th of March, the European day against the violence over the healthcare workers, we appeal respect and maintaining of the integrity of the doctors as well as system solutions for arising problems without verbal or physical violence”, points out Prof. Dr. Kalina Grivcheva – Stardelova, the President of the Doctor’s Chamber of RNM.
A significant step forward in creating a safer environment in the health sector is the adoption of the modifications of the Criminal Law, by which any verbal or physical assault over a doctor or a healthcare worker shall be considered a felony “prevention of an official in performing official duties” and treated accordingly. With this new law, it is expected that acts as acts of force, serious threats, insults, abuse, inflicting physical injuries or intimidations with weapons against doctors or other healthcare workers while performing their duties to be treated as offences punishable with imprisonment from six months to five years. This is expected to discourage clinging to violence as a possible solution.
The Standing Committee of European Doctors – CPME, whose member is the Doctor’s Chamber notifies that the violence coexists with the exhaustion, which is an increasing reason for the healthcare workers to leave the healthcare sector. The Committee appeals to the policy creators and the public to assist in maintaining the safety of the healthcare workers and asks the European Commission to support the governments with providing guidelines for the minimal capacities needed for the working staff. The President of the Standing Committee, d-r Christiaan Keijzer points out that the influence of the violence on the healthcare workers should be identified because it affects not only the healthcare staff, but the patient’s services as well. It is necessary to promote the respect of the healthcare workers and to provide resources for informing and support in case of violence.
The Doctor’s Chamber shall continue to stand for promotion of consciousness regarding this important subject, along with the other European organizations and partners of the larger health community.
