Citation

Li N, Wang Z, Dear K. J. Forensic Leg. Med. 2019; 67: 1-6.

Affiliation

School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jflm.2019.07.006

PMID

31352158

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to extend the current understanding of violence against health professionals and facilities in China, with data from an authoritative, national-representative, but under-researched data source - litigation records, and discuss implications for developing violence prevention strategies.

DESIGN: We collected all legal cases relevant to violence against health professionals and facilities from criminal ligation records released by the Supreme Court of China from 2010 to 2016. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (i) Characteristics of perpetrators: gender, age, education, occupation, history of mental illness and alcohol; (ii) characteristics of victims: medical specialization, location, type of violence; (iii) outcome of treatment.

RESULTS: 140 cases were collected for analysis. Beating, pushing, verbal abuse, threatening, burning mock paper money, placing a corpse in the hospital, hanging banners, blocking hospital gates and doors, and smashing hospital property were the most frequently reported types of violence. Specifically following patient deaths, the interval between a patient's death and violence by the patient's families and friends was short, with 51% happening on the same day.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a comprehensive overview of violence against health professionals and facilities in China, which can be used to inform the development of prevention strategies.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Criminal litigation records; Health policy; Health system reform; Violence against health professionals