The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has issued a statement, urging the public to treat health-care workers with respect after four people – including staff members – were injured at the Halifax Infirmary’s emergency department last week.
Police say an armed man, who was receiving care at the hospital, stabbed two people in the emergency department and injured two others.
The 32-year-old suspect has been charged with attempted murder.
The CMA says the incident is a harsh reminder of the danger health professionals across the country face while providing patients with care.
It says a recent review of workplace violence found that incidents against nurses have become more severe and frequent in recent years.
The association also cited its 2021 national physician survey that found eight in 10 physicians have experienced intimidation, bullying and/or harassment in the workplace. Four in 10 also reported that the experiences happen “frequently” or “often” and women are “significantly” more likely to say they happen at least once a week.
“We also acknowledge that toxic online behaviour increasingly manifests in real life. With influential figures normalizing the use of threats and bullying, it is unsurprising that these behaviours are being echoed in health-care settings. But hospitals, medical clinics and other health-care facilities simply can’t tolerate this - people’s health and lives are at stake,” the statement reads.
In 2021, the federal government amended the Criminal Code to enhance protections for health-care workers.
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