The Observatory of assaults recorded 1,363 attacks doctors in 3 years.

– 416 attacks, of which 18% led to injuries occurred in 2012

-autonomous councils and medical schools of 7 autonomous communities signed agreements with the health administration and/or the Prosecutor’s offices to the comprehensive approach to aggression in healthcare

-55% of assaulted doctors are women and 45% are men

-89% of attacks occur in public sector

– 35% of acts of violence suffer them doctors between 46 to 55%

– 68% of attacks occur in primary care

– in 29% of cases, the perpetrators are family members of the patient

-10% of abusers are patients suffering from addictions. Psychiatric history is noted by 17%

– 27% of the causes of the attacks caused by discrepancies in health care and 12% do not prescribe medication proposed by the patient

– in 68% of cases there are allegations and 45% trial was held

-the Observatory of aggression has analyzed 83 sentences

Spain, March of 2013– threats, coercion, abuse, insult and/or harassment focus most of 1,363 aggressions suffered by the doctors in the practice of his profession in all Spain in the last three years, according to data from the Observatory of aggression of the Organization Medical College (WTO). In 2012 there were 416 cases of violence, of which 18% of them had injuries.

The death of Dr. María Eugenia Moreno, a 34 year resident who was assassinated by a patient while she was working in the health centre of Moratalla (Murcia) was the spearhead for the creation of this Observatory of attacks which, year after year, collects data from the 52 colleges of medical officers representing a collective of 225,000 professionals

its purpose is to establish actions aimed at avoid these attacks, in addition to severely impact on the health and the quality of life of the assaulted professional, substantially affects the health activity, one of the basic pillars of our society’s welfare, to the extent possible.

The Observatory of violence picks up communications of assaults, which annually makes a study on qualitative data, both the attacked and the attacker (sex, age, specialty, location, etc.), as well as allegations that, from schools, are derived through the courts. The Observatory works, from the beginning of zero tolerance ” to these behaviors, in a multidisciplinary treatment of the problem to establish preventive measures against violence.

The Observatory of aggression has sponsored the agreements signed with the provincial prosecutor and the regional authorities in schools in 7 autonomous communities that have served, no doubt, to make progress in judicial proceedings faster, expeditious, and exemplary, that consideration as crime of bombing against the public authority was essential.

It is possible that all these measures have affected the number of assaults that, in 2012, have decreased by 16% compared to those recorded in the previous year, although the data show a prevalence of these violent behaviors in the health sector, where according to the who, produced 25% of incidents of violence in the workplace.

The national day against aggressions in the health field, the doctors Juan José Rodríguez Sendín, President of the WTO; Serafín Romero, Secretary general of the Corporation, and José Alberto Becerra, Coordinator of the Observatory of aggressions, these data have made public. Also they delivered the Manifesto against aggressions in the health sector the Minister of health, social services and equality, Ana Mato, and the Minister of Justice, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, to thank both the commitment that in the area health and judicial, respectively, they have been showing, as well as to ask them to keep their collaboration to promote a greater awareness of the society to this scourge.

The study on aggression, indicates that the highest percentage of assaults suffered what women (54%), compared to 46% of men assaulted. The previous year, the percentage was in reverse. In terms of distribution by sections of ages aggression, doctors from 46 to 55 years occurs in those who represent 37%, followed by the 36 to 45 years with a 28% and from 56 to 65 with 19%. But also 26-35 years olds representing 14% and those over 66 years 2%.

in the health sector, it is still the public occur where the vast majority of this kind of violent behavior, with 89% of the cases, while the private sector have occurred in 11%, similar to those of the previous year data. And, on the field where there is aggression, remains the first service that takes the biggest part (68%), the Hospital (19%) and other areas (13%). Of these areas, 65% of attacks occur in consultation or internment, 22% in emergency and 13% in others.

Attackers, 28% of the cases are relatives of the patient; 28% are patients not scheduled, i.e. without an appointment; 25% are programmed patients and 19% are users of the Centre where attacks occur.

In terms of the profile of the aggressor, 58% of the cases are patients without background; 17% has a psychiatric history; 15% have an organic disease and 10% remaining, have drug-related background.

As to the main causes of aggression, 27% are produced by discrepancies in health care; 14% for weather to be attended; 12% by not prescribing the drug proposed by the patient; 9% by personal differences; 6% for issuing medical reports not consistent with its requirements; 5% in relation to the incapacity for work; 5% by unrest in the functioning of the Centre and 22% for other reasons. Of these data is the increase of the cases caused by weather to be seen over the previous year, which has almost doubled, from 8% to 14%.

Produced aggressions, 18% of these injuries occurred. And 15% of the total, led to sick leave.

In terms of the actions from schools, in 70% of cases were made proceedings; 68% of them presented complaint and 46% trial was held.

The Observatory of aggression has analyzed a total of 83 convictions, of which 29 involved offences attack against public authority, injuries and threats and the rest have been considered failures for several reasons: due respect for public order, injury, abuse, libel, harassment, threats, coercion, theft and damage.