Terror in the hospital. It was around 9pm last night the head doctor of the emergency room in Lamezia Terme, Dr. Rosarino Procopio, was attacked. This was communicated by the Catanzaro Health Authority. The attack happened by the relatives of a patient who had to be discharged from the short-term intensive observation department. Doctor Procopio, during the interview with the family, was explaining that the period of clinical observation had ended, the diagnostic process was concluded and the lady could return home with the therapy prescribed by the health workers when one of the three relatives who were present at the interview , LS, began to rail against the doctor by opposing his discharge. As soon as the doctor turned to go back into his room, he hit him in the back with a truncheon that he kept hidden under a jacket.
The company security guards, the emergency room police officers and the police station officers who were escorting a patient intervened promptly. Investigations into the episode are still underway by the State Police.
The attacker arrested
The officers of the Lamezia Terme Police Station arrested the person responsible for the attack on the head of the Lamezia Terme Emergency Department, Rosarino Procopio, who was hit with a truncheon by the nephew of a patient. It’s about Carlo Sacco, 28 years old, accused of aggravated assault. The man had already been identified immediately by some officers who were in the Lamezia hospital to escort a patient and who had intervened to stop the attacker. The investigations are coordinated by the chief prosecutor of Lamezia Terme, Salvatore Curciowho requested confirmation of his detention in prison from the competent office. The attack began when the doctors informed her family of the decision to discharge the patient. «I applaud the State Police who in just a few hours brought to justice the alleged person responsible for the brutal attack against the head doctor of the emergency room of the Lamezia Terme hospital, who was hit with a truncheon by the relative of a patient. A determined and timely response, which represents the most concrete sign of closeness towards the attacked doctor and all the hospital staff. The deferred flagrant arrest was made possible thanks to the new rules introduced by the Meloni Government specifically to combat acts of violence or threats against medical and healthcare personnel, which also provides for a sharp increase in penalties for those responsible. Rules that are part of a package of interventions – including the 50 percent increase for police stations in hospitals and 80 percent for employed staff – aimed at guaranteeing safety and conditions of serenity for those who carry out a service essential for citizens, and who are too often exposed to aggression, threats and episodes of violence”. This is what the Undersecretary of the Interior states Wanda Ferro (FDI).
The words of discouragement from the head physician
«We have reached an extreme point where the doctor no longer has the freedom, serenely, to decide on the therapy, on the assistance of a patient. Practically we are harassed every day both by the patients themselves but also by their families about what we should do, what investigations to request, when to discharge and whether to discharge. It is no longer possible to accept a situation of this type because one does not work peacefully and then one risks, if one is slightly against their requests, being physically subjected to them”, stated the head physician who has already returned to work today.
The healthcare company: legal protection for healthcare workers
The healthcare company is following the matter, guaranteeing legal protection to the healthcare worker, while waiting to take civil action against the perpetrator of the attack. “The Provincial Health Authority of Catanzaro expresses profound solidarity with the doctor Rosarino Procopio; condemning a premeditated attack is sadly taken for granted, we expect a strong response from the competent authorities, because these phenomena harm not only healthcare personnel, but also all users. In this case, possible justifications such as emotional tension cannot even be invoked, it is not tolerable that one enters a hospital with a truncheon to impose abuse with force and violence. As always, the Company will do its part” I communicated the leaders of the Healthcare Company, who continued by underlining that “This is an unusual event that requires a specific response from everyone. We are all committed to ensuring better reception and working conditions, we will further implement measures to guarantee patients and workers to whom we are grateful because they continue to carry out their activities despite a context which, as unfortunately demonstrated, can become extremely difficult. We are convinced that the legal protection of employees and the construction of the Company as a civil party are necessary measures, also valid as deterrence; employees are not alone and this must be clear to everyone.”
Occhiuto: it’s crazy to bring a truncheon to the hospital, solidarity with the head doctor who was attacked
“Yet another violent episode against healthcare personnel raises great alarm and calls for the urgency of activating every necessary measure to protect our doctors and nurses.
Events of such gravity, such as the one that occurred last night in the Lamezia Terme hospital, in which the head of the emergency room Rosarino Procopio was attacked with a truncheon and suffered various bruises, are becoming increasingly commonplace.
For this reason, once again, I renew the invitation to the institutions to activate all appropriate countermeasures to stem such a disturbing phenomenon.
Sincere solidarity and closeness to Dr. Procopio, his colleagues, the patients, and the entire ASP of Catanzaro.
I hope that the individual who allowed himself to enter the hospital with a truncheon – truly crazy behavior – with the obvious intent of using violence against someone, will be brought to justice for his criminal act unworthy of a civilized country ”.