by Carlo Macrì
Rosarino Procopio was attacked during the night by the nephew of a patient who was supposed to leave the Calabrian hospital because her condition had improved
In the emergency room with the truncheon. The relative of a patient who was about to be discharged from the Lamezia Terme hospital did not hesitate to extract the weapon from under his jacket to hit the acting head physician Rosarino Procopio. The attacker was later arrested thanks to the new law decree that protects healthcare personnel. The doctor received three family members of the patient on Monday evening and explained to them that her condition had improved, informing them that the clinical observation period had ended. In short, the patient could return home and follow the therapy prescribed by the doctors. One of the patient’s relatives, taking advantage of the fact that the doctor had turned his back on him to return to his room, first insulted him, then hit him several times. The reason for the attack, according to the facts, is that the relative should not have been discharged for any reason.
Some agents of Police who were inside the hospital to escort a prisoner intervened to stop the attacker. The man was identified and a few hours later the judicial authority took action against him. The Provincial Health Authority of Catanzaro expressed solidarity with Procopius. «Condemning a premeditated attack is sadly obvious. We expect a strong response from the competent authorities, because these phenomena harm not only healthcare personnel but also all users.” The note from the health administration supports the fact that «in this case, possible justifications such as emotional tension cannot even be invoked. It is not tolerable that one enters a hospital with a truncheon to impose abuse with force and violence. The company – concludes the note – will do its part as always”.
Just a month ago, in the same hospital, a man was stopped by the police after a verbal attack on a nurse. The attacker had arrived at the emergency room with his wife and demanded that she be examined urgently even though there was no urgent need.
November 12, 2024 (modified November 12, 2024 | 4:36 pm)
