STRONG and VITAL No 5

Repor tage

Violence in Hospitals A Growing Phenomenon

In the United States, hospitals face what experts describe as a “clear and present danger.” Reports of assaults, stabbings, and even mass shootings in medical facilities have become alarmingly fre quent. According to the American Hos pital Association (AHA), healthcare wor kers suffer more workplace violence and injuries than any other profession. Since the pandemic, 44 percent of nurses say physical attacks have increased, while 68 percent report a rise in verbal abuse.

Violence in Hospitals: A Growing Threat to Doctors and Nurses

Insults, threats, and physical assaults against doctors and nurses by patients and their relatives are on the rise. The limits of what is bearable are often excee ded. Violence can take many forms: verbal abuse, physical attacks, or a combination of both.

In one extreme case, a doctor had to inform family members that, despite all

medical efforts, a patient had died. The reaction was a storm of insults, punches, and even chairs thrown across the room. Such incidents are one reason why security personnel are now a common presence not only in emer gency wards, but across hospitals, protecting staff from attacks. When violence targets property, it disrupts hospi tal services and damages vital equipment. The Scale of the Problem At University Hospital Basel, there are on average two violent incidents per day—a figure that has doubled over the past three years. Across Switzerland, 90 percent of healthcare workers report having experienced psycholo gical or physical violence during their careers. Long a hid den problem, it is now increasingly spoken about in public, as many insist that violence must not become part of the job description.

Hospitals, once thought of as sanctuaries of peace and care, are becoming danger zones.

Consequences for Healthcare

The violence is worsening another crisis: the chronic shor tage of qualified staff. Already burdened with long hours and intense pressure, many healthcare professionals are now pushed to their limits by psychological and physical abuse. Faced with these conditions, some leave the pro fession altogether, further deepening staffing shortages.

How Can Doctors and Nurses Be Protected?

University hospitals in Bern, Basel, Zurich, and St. Gallen have hired private security firms and strengthened coope ration with the police. In Italy, the situation has become so concerning that some hospitals have introduced self defense courses for medical staff. Experts argue that long-term solutions must include pre vention and intervention programs, providing staff with tools for de-escalation and crisis management. Interna tional research has shown that such programs can be effective in raising awareness, preventing escalation, and helping staff navigate dangerous situations.

The situation in western Switzerland mirrors this trend. At Geneva University Hospital (HUG), the number of violent attacks continues to climb. In 2023 alone, staff recorded 1,000 incidents of physical and verbal violence, of which 308 were classified as serious. These severe cases— almost double since 2020—occur mainly in psychiatry (63 percent) and emergency wards (17 percent). “Violence must not become an unavoida ble risk of working in healthcare,” staff warn. The trend is not limited to Switzerland. In Germany, inci dents of pushing, spitting, insults, and threats have risen sharply, no longer considered isolated cases. In France, 37 percent of hospital employees report regular exposure to physical violence, with the figure reaching 84 percent among nursing assistants.

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STRONG and VITAL No. 5