Persons who attack doctors, nurses or helpers in emergency care should be punished harder. This is what a federal government plan will be. Anyone who attacks medical personnel in action, "must also be punished accordingly," said Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU). "As a state and as a society, we often have to show the boundaries of what is possible and what is not."
Spahn is said to have agreed with Federal Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) already on a criminal tightening. To the height of the punishment measure one could say nothing, it was said. First, the newspapers had reported to the Funke media group accordingly. According to the report, the project will be part of the benchmark paper against right-wing extremism and hate crime, which is due to pass through the cabinet this Wednesday.
Attacks in emergency ambulances
According to Spahn, the number of attacks on doctors and carers has risen by more than half in no time at all. Three out of four hospitals complained of attacks in emergency ambulances. Two months ago, a poll by the civil servants' union came to similar conclusions. Accordingly, 58 percent of Germans have ever observed attacks on rescue workers and emergency physicians - higher numbers were only available to the police. (Read more about violence against forces here)
Two and a half years ago, the Bundestag had already passed stricter sanctions for attacks on police officers and firefighters. For such attacks threatened since then up to five years imprisonment. Two years later, however, the balance sheet of the civil servants' association was sobering: The tightening of the law had led to no noticeable relief, it was said in August.
"A particularly important concern"
Nevertheless, the Federal Association of Emergency Physicians (BAND) and Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe explicitly welcomed the latest plans. The emergency services made an important contribution to society every day, said Johanniter board member Jörg Lüssem. "Therefore, the protection of all those involved in emergency care is a particularly important concern for us." But because many patients in the emergency room are under the influence of alcohol and drugs, the emergency medical association BAND wishes there additional security measures.
For the Green Party Chairwoman in the Bundestag Health Committee, Kirsten Kappert-Gonther, the planned tightening of punishment is correct, but not sufficient. It is necessary to reform the emergency care, so that help seekers can be treated quickly and the stress on the ground is reduced.
Spahn admitted that there was a need to catch up. But he also spoke of a social problem: who cares about the health and safety of the people deserves support, said the minister. "I sometimes wonder, actually, what's going on in the minds of those who see it differently."