Expatica news

Doctors victims of violence

23 February 2007

BRUSSELS – An investigation by the Federal Government Service Home Affairs, in cooperation with Social Affairs, has shown that 11 percent of physicians have been the victim of physical violence or threats while practicing their profession. La Dernière Heure reported this on Friday.

Twenty percent of the doctors are very frightened of being confronted with violence in their practice and 36 percent fear they could be the victim of violence while on call. All in all about half of doctors feel unsafe.

Doctors tend to be more concerned about safety when making house calls to patients they have not met before. The fact that they often carry large amounts of cash makes the problem worse.

About 44 percent of doctors have already taken preventative measures and 13 percent have followed self-defence courses.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Belgian news