Statement on violence against physicians from Birlik Sağlık Sen

12punto.com.tr

Birlik Sağlık Sen Chairman Ahmet Doğruyol issued a press statement regarding the incident where Dr. Mustafa Hürkal Tezvar, who works at the Muğla Bodrum District No. 12 Ortakent Family Health Center, suffered a severe heart condition and fell ill following physical and verbal violence inflicted by patients' relatives. He stated, "Following the physical and verbal violence inflicted by patients' relatives on Dr. Mustafa Hürkal Tezvar, our doctor colleague suffered a severe heart condition and fell ill; after receiving initial intervention from his colleagues, he was admitted to intensive care at the hospital to which he was referred. First and foremost, we wish our doctor colleague a speedy recovery."

(Birlik Sağlık Sen Chairman Ahmet Doğruyol)

Stating that 'There is almost no day that we do not hear news of violence in healthcare. And the news of violence in healthcare that we hear is not even the tip of the iceberg,' Doğruyol continued his statement as follows:

"Every day, dozens, perhaps hundreds of our healthcare workers are subjected to verbal and physical violence by patients and their relatives. Of course, violence in healthcare is not a problem of today. As our new Minister of Health, Mr. Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu, has also expressed, violence in healthcare is a result of 'prioritizing patient satisfaction,' the commercialization of healthcare, viewing the patient as a customer, forcing our doctors in state hospitals to see patients with appointments every 5 minutes, and especially forcing family physicians serving in holiday regions to see as many guest patients as there are in their own 4,000-person population, as well as the professions being discredited in the eyes of the citizens. Unfortunately, we do not believe that our authorities are sincere about preventing violence in healthcare.

We want to ask the authorities:

For violence in healthcare to become an agenda item, must one or more of our doctors, nurses, technicians, in short, all healthcare workers serving in our hospitals and health institutions, lose their lives? We have worn out our tongues talking about and expressing the violence in healthcare, which has been increasing day by day, especially in recent years."

'MINISTRY OFFICIALS ARE PLAYING TO THE GALLERY'

Last year, a regulation regarding violence in healthcare was implemented by the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM). However, it is seen in the incidents of violence that have occurred that the regulation passed has had no effect.

In general, those who commit violence enter through the front door of police stations and leave through the back door; if public reaction forms, the perpetrator is arrested again.

It should never be forgotten that our healthcare workers serving in our health institutions and organizations are civil servants on duty.

Unfortunately, our Ministry of Health officials are still playing to the gallery regarding violence in healthcare.

They are pursuing the goal of pacifying healthcare workers and softening the situation over time with initiatives that have no effect and will not have any effect, such as WHITE CODE, GREY CODE, and X-RAY devices.

When a healthcare worker who is subjected to violence issues a WHITE CODE, they lose time in courts that last an average of 2 years. Negative consequences and difficulties are also experienced when the perpetrator of violence and the victim of violence are brought into the same environment.

If we want to solve violence in healthcare; first of all, deterrent penalties must be introduced and implemented. In the first stage, detention should be introduced for those who commit violence.

Except for emergency health services, they should be required to pay for health services for a certain period (6 months, 1 year). Sanctions such as the non-suspension and non-conversion to a fine of the prison sentence given to the perpetrator of violence must be implemented immediately.

Citizens should be informed by creating public service announcements to prevent violence in healthcare.

State officials should use deterrent language against those who commit violence in healthcare.

Instead of making efforts to hide violence in healthcare occurring in an institution, statements should be made to create public awareness. Otherwise, it will not be possible to prevent violence in our country.

'HEALTHCARE WORKERS MUST BE SAVED FROM THE SPIRAL OF VIOLENCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE'

Violence in healthcare will not end by condemning, expressing sadness, or viewing the incidents as isolated events.

It must be quite difficult to try to hold on to life while serving patients on one hand, and to struggle to provide healthcare services while worrying about losing one's own life on the other.

Healthcare workers no longer have the patience to tolerate violence in healthcare.

For this reason, we say once again: stop watching violence in healthcare.

News Source: 12punto