In 2022, a total of 843 cases of assaults on doctors were reported in Spain, a figure that reaches the all-time high, representing an increase of 38% compared to the previous year (231 more). Every ten hours a health professional is attacked with insults, threats or injuries.
The data of the Observatory against Aggressions of the General Council of Medical Colleges reveal that of the total attacks on doctors reported in 2022, 61% were received by female doctors and a quarter of those affected, 25.4%, are the youngest members (under 35 years of age).
Of the total number of attacks, 47% were insults and harassment, 37% threats and coercion, and 16% injuries. Of the injuries, 73% are mental and 27% are physical.
Since this Observatory was launched in 2010, and until last year, a total of 6,492 attacks have been registered. The main reason: discrepancies with the medical care received.
Primary Care, more aggressions
The health field where professionals receive the most attacks is Primary Care, with 43%, 8 points less than in 2021, followed by hospitals with 27%, 5 points more than in the previous year.
loaned infographicCare causes of aggressions
The causes of the attacks were care in 79% of cases and structural by 21%.
Of the careThese were the reasons:
- Discrepancies with the medical assistance received: 53.2%
- Personal discrepancies: 13.8%
- Not prescribing what was proposed by the patient: 12.4%
- In relation to temporary disability: 10.6%
- Reports not in accordance with their claims: 9.9%
Regarding the causes structural:
- Time to be attended: 64.3%
- Center malfunction: 24.09%
- Related to covid-19: 11.7%
Typology of the aggressors
48% of the aggressors are patients who had a scheduled consultation, the same figure as in 2021.
loaned infographic50.9% of the aggressors were between 40 and 60 years old; 37.3% were under 40 years of age and 11.8% over 60 years of age.
By sex, more than 51% of female aggressors are in the age range of 40 to 60 years and represent 43% of those under 40, while men account for 68% in the case of older aggressors, with more than 60 years.
According to the report of the Observatory Against Aggressions of the General Council of Medical Colleges (CGCOM), support or advice to affected doctors by the company has been increasing since 2010, 32 percentage points in 2022, reaching a 67%