Violenza ai sanitari: nuove speranze e vecchi problemi

With the recent amendment of articles 380 and 382-bis of the penal code, new hope is emerging in the fight against violence towards healthcare workers. The first provides for arrest in flagrante delicto for those who assault healthcare personnel or damage property intended for care. The second introduces the possibility of delayed flagrante delicto arrest, allowing arrest within 48 hours of the crime, provided there is sufficient documentation, such as video footage confirming the incident. The penalties provided are: up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 10,000 euros for those who vandalize healthcare facilities.

The law also establishes that starting from January 1st, funds will be allocated, after consultation with the Regions, for the possibility of installing new video surveillance systems in healthcare facilities. Some hospitals have already adopted these measures: an example is the Ausl of Imola, where, thanks to the intervention of Nursing Up, the Chief of Police, the Mayor, and the Ausl collaborated to ensure greater security.

Although these legislative changes represent a step forward, the writer is convinced that they alone are not enough. A collective commitment is needed to launch an information campaign aimed at raising public awareness. During the pandemic, healthcare personnel experienced a real wave of unjustified hatred, an underestimated phenomenon that has deep roots in misinformation and the lack of recognition for the work done.

It is worth remembering that already in 2020 a law was introduced to protect healthcare professionals from violence. Law of August 14, 2020, no.113, published in the Official Gazette on September 9 of the same year, provided for penalties of up to 5,000 euros and prison sentences of up to 16 years for the most serious crimes. Yet, violence in healthcare facilities has remained an unresolved problem.

The road ahead is still long, but the new rules offer a concrete opportunity to fight this scourge, provided that greater awareness and respect for those who dedicate themselves every day to caring for others accompanies them.

LapaginadiNursingUp 

Vincenzo Parisi