Violence Against Medical Workers In China

Being a doctor in China was considered as a decent job with a certain amount of prestige. However, health workers are finding the job increasingly insecure after a growing number of attackes on medical staff in Chinese hospitals.

Threats and violence to medical workers is common in every country but is more frequent in China. Seven consecutive incidents of violence against medical personnel took place in Chinese hospitals, three doctors were killed and ten medical staff were severely injured within only ten days in October 2013 in China . China Ministry of Health statistics indicates that the number of “incidents” aimed at hospitals and medical staff increased from around 10,000 in 2005 to more than 17,000 in 2010 . Chinese hospital association conducted a survey including 8,000 patients and 8,000 medical workers in 316 hospitals at 30 provinces. The results show that the incidence of oral abusive and threaten to medical workers increased from 90% in 2008 to 96% in 2012, whereas the incidence of physical injuries …show more content…
Patients who blame the doctors for failing to achieve the health status they expect. Those who feel they have been physically or psychologically injured are more likely to resort to physical violence or oral abuses against clinicians, especially when their complaints are ignored or not handled in a satisfying manner. As violence is a function of the dynamic interaction between a specific individual and a specific situation for a given period , the existing of Yi nao (Chinese:医闹; literally: "healthcare disturbance") gang could turn patients’ anger into violent actions. Yi Nao is a unique phenomenon in China, which is usually the organized disturbance of hospital operations by patients or their families and even people hired by patients to get financing compensation from hospitals for perceived or actual medical