On the morning of October 30, during the National Assembly's discussion session on socio-economics, Minister Dao Hong Lan partly explained and clarified the opinions raised by delegates, including the issue of ensuring a safe and effective working environment for medical staff in the face of increased violence in recent times.
Notably, Minister Dao Hong Lan proposed that the National Assembly consider adding to the Resolution the content: "At all times, violating medical staff while performing medical examination and treatment tasks and saving people is an act of resistance against law enforcement officers".
This proposal was made in the context that the situation of abuse of medical staff at medical examination and treatment facilities has been a "hot" issue for a long time.
These incidents not only seriously affect the security and safety of hospitals but also directly threaten the health and lives of medical staff, patients and relatives, cause public outrage, damage psychology and reduce the working spirit of the health sector's staff.
From the beginning of 2025 to now, there have been 6 cases of abuse of medical staff. In particular, the incident at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital was particularly serious, where a nurse was stabbed 11 times in a knife while on duty.
This case has far exceeded the limits of an act of personal violation. That is a direct attack on medical ethics, social order and above all, on the humanistic foundation of the health sector with the noble mission of saving people.
For a long time, cases of attacking doctors, nurses, and medical staff have often been handled according to Article 134 of the Penal Code - the crime of "intentionally causing injury" or administrative punishment.
Although that handling is in accordance with the law, it is not fair enough. Because the person being assaulted is not only a victim of violence but also a person performing a special public service task - the task of saving people.
When a medical staff member is attacked in between shifts, it is not only an act of causing personal injury, but also an act of obstructing public duties, threatening the patient's life and paralyzing part of the treatment system.
Putting this behavior within the scope of "resisting a person performing official duties" (Article 330 of the Penal Code) will be an admission that doctors, nurses, medical technicians... when performing medical examination and treatment duties are the ones performing official duties that are protected by law at the highest level.
In particular, the prison sentence of 6 months to 7 years for this behavior will be enough of a deterrent, showing that society and the law do not tolerate violence in hospitals.
This is also one of the solutions to regain confidence and restore the spirit of hundreds of thousands of health workers who are working day and night in pressured conditions, lacking and with many potential risks.
When doctors are protected, they will feel more secure in saving people. When the hospital is a safe place, patients will also be treated effectively, humanely and in line with the image of "medical salary as from the model".
