Poland has seen a surge of violent assaults on healthcare professionals in the recent months, prompting swift government action to better protect healthcare staff.
On Monday, May 26th, the Ministry of Justice published a package of amendment proposals to existing laws that includes punishing such assaults with prison sentences ranging from three months to five years.
One of the most shocking cases occurred in late April, when orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tomasz Sołecki was fatally stabbed at a university hospital. The assailant burst into the consulting room and attacked him without warning.
“These situations, unfortunately, are everyday occurrences in hospital emergency departments. Most aggressors are patients under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” said Iwona Sitnik-Kornecka, spokesperson for the Kraków Military Hospital.
Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna condemned the violence, writing on X: “Violence against those who dedicate their lives to saving ours is an act of barbarism and must be met with the most severe punishment.”
“The Justice Ministry has prepared amendments to the Penal Code to increase liability for any attacks on medical personnel. This project was added to the government’s work plan in April, and I believe it will be adopted by the Council of Ministers by the end of this quarter,” Justice Minister Adam Bodnar confirmed, but pointed out that “Even the best laws cannot replace sensitivity and a serious, swift approach to these cases by prosecutors and courts.”
