Paramedics, doctors, and nurses rank among the most trusted professions in Poland. Yet, they are increasingly facing violence and harassment. In 2024, Polish emergency medical teams responded to over 3.2 million incidents—one in ten involved some form of aggression against medical personnel. As attacks escalate, the medical community is calling for real, structural protection—legal, physical, and organizational.
“The medical community is currently facing a significant level of aggression and hate. Unfortunately, we are seeing a trend where online abuse spills over into real-world interactions involving doctors, nurses, and paramedics. In recent months, we’ve witnessed deeply saddening events, including the tragic death of Dr. Tomasz Solecki in Kraków, as well as other lesser-known cases of verbal abuse from patients,” said Dr. Iwona Kania, Acting Head of Communications at the Supreme Medical Chamber (Naczelna Izba Lekarska), in an interview with Newseria.
According to a survey by SW Research, medical professionals enjoy high public trust. Paramedics ranked second (just behind firefighters) with a trust rating of 81.5%. Nurses and doctors also scored highly, with 73.2% and 72.8% respectively. Despite this, the medical sector has seen a disturbing increase in violence. Recent high-profile cases include the fatal stabbing of a doctor at a hospital in Kraków on April 29 and the death of a paramedic during an emergency call in Siedlce in January.
“The pervasive aggression—both online and in public—creates a false sense among some people that they can act without consequences. There is also growing polarization between social groups, and it’s time to say enough to this hate,” Dr. Kania explained.
The Supreme Medical Chamber warns of escalating online abuse—on social media, in digital communication, and even in traditional media. Medical professionals are frequently targeted with hateful, degrading, or insulting comments, often due to their profession or medical practices, including vaccination advocacy. Experts warn that such cyberviolence can have serious psychological consequences. Yet many in the profession feel the state fails to provide adequate protection or ensure their safety.
A study by the Medical University of Gdańsk found that 89% of emergency department staff experienced verbal abuse, while 65% had suffered physical violence. Deputy Health Minister Marek Kos told Parliament that emergency teams responded to over 3.2 million calls in 2024 and used an emergency “help” button on their tablets almost 3,100 times.
“The medical community is pushing for systemic changes to improve safety, such as ensuring that police respond quickly to incidents reported by medical facilities. The President of the Supreme Medical Council recently met with representatives of the National Police Headquarters, and we are hopeful progress will be made. We are also calling for harsher penalties for those who assault public officials, including doctors on duty, and for better protection of doctors’ personal data in public registers such as CEIDG,” said Dr. Kania.
Discussions on these challenges have taken place between the Supreme Medical Chamber and the Polish Ombudsman. In early May, Chamber President Łukasz Jankowski met with Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna. The talks focused on systemic measures to enhance healthcare workers’ safety. Proposals include:
- Prosecuting threats against medical personnel ex officio
- Restricting access to healthcare workers’ personal data in public registers
- Creating a new legal category for disturbing public order in medical facilities
- Implementing a national procedure for reporting and responding to violence
- Establishing a national Health Sector Violence Registry
- Standardizing security protocols for facility access
- Introducing a no-fault system to reduce “deferred aggression” related to complaints
The next round of discussions at the Ministry of Health is scheduled for June 2.
“We are now waiting to see how the Ministry of Health responds. We understand that some work is ongoing, but we’ll have to see the outcomes,” Dr. Kania added.
The Supreme Medical Chamber reminds the public that, under Polish law, healthcare workers—including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and pharmacists—acting within their professional duties are afforded the same legal protections as public officials. Any threats, insults, or physical assaults can result in criminal charges—punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
“Many hospital directors are now reconsidering how to enhance staff safety. I believe part of the solution lies in encouraging the public to react when something wrong is happening—instead of turning a blind eye. On the management side, changes in logistics could help too, such as ensuring security guards check the purpose of a visitor’s presence—whether they are a patient or have other intentions,” Dr. Kania concluded.
