Female house surgeon stabbed to death: High time for a multi-pronged action plan to prevent and manage violence against Health care workers

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) has described violence and harassment in the healthcare sector as episodes of threatening, abuse, or assault toward healthcare workers (HCWs) in situations pertinent to their work [1]. A recent heart-wrenching incident in Kerala, India of a female house surgeon stabbed to death by an alcoholic and drugged assailant, has staggered the medical and other healthcare fraternity [2]. Although occupational violence affects various community occupational settings, healthcare and social services remain especially susceptible to high loads of occupational violence, accounting for more than a quarter of all occupational violence incidents. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to a significant occupational burden that has been exaggerated after the COVID-19 pandemic’s emergence. Ramzi et al. have demonstrated the global prevalence of workplace violence to be as high as 47% during the pandemic, with a significant burden on the HCWs’ quality of life. Occupational violence is a real threat to HCWs, especially in serving high-risk sectors (e.g., emergency departments) in developing countries. Multiple interventions (mainly educational) have been postulated to mitigate and manage patient violence in healthcare; however, their effectiveness is still doubtful. Recently, an Indian doctor met a drastic end by being stabbed to death by a former patient. The following correspondence will discuss the different aspects of healthcare-related occupational violence.