The Order of Surgeons and Dentists of the province of Reggio Calabria expresses the firmest and most indignant condemnation for the cowardly attack suffered by Doctor Salvatore Tripodi, an esteemed pulmonologist and allergist, who was violently attacked yesterday afternoon inside the Diagnostic Center for Social Lung Diseases, at the Prevention Department in via Willermin.
An act of brutal violence involving a man who, without any reservation or justified reason, demanded the immediate performance of a healthcare service, reacting aggressively and punching Doctor Tripodi in the face with two punches, causing facial trauma and a temporary loss of consciousness. Only the prompt intervention of some patients avoided even more serious consequences.
An unspeakable gesture that affects not only the individual professional, but the entire medical community and the public health service, already burdened by structural deficiencies and by a constant commitment aimed at guaranteeing care and assistance to all citizens, often beyond the limits of organizational possibilities. Dr. Tripodi is known for his professionalism, dedication and availability towards patients. His testimony – which highlights how, despite the pressure and lack of resources, healthcare personnel continue to provide services even beyond the scheduled time – makes what happened even more intolerable.
The Medical Association launches an urgent appeal to the competent authorities to adopt concrete and immediate measures to guarantee the safety of doctors and all healthcare personnel in hospitals and outpatient clinics in the area. The protection of the physical safety and dignity of those who work in healthcare can no longer be postponed or underestimated.
“On behalf of the entire Reggio medical community, we express full solidarity with the attacked colleague and renew our commitment to monitor and intervene so that such incidents do not go unpunished or are repeated – states the president of the order Pasquale Veneziano – Violence against doctors is a wound for the entire society. It is time to say enough”.
The solidarity of Mayor Falcomatà: “Violence against healthcare workers is an emergency that should not be underestimated”
“My solidarity with Doctor Salvatore Tripodi for the attack he suffered, a doctor whose professionalism and esteem for the activity at the Diagnostic Center for Social Lung Diseases are recognized by all” – are the words of the mayor Giuseppe Falcomatà who adds: “Violence must always be stigmatized firmly, without any mitigating circumstances, and pushes us, unfortunately once again, to reflect on a phenomenon that represents an emergency that should not be underestimate. Violence and aggression against healthcare workers is a plague that must be fought and above all prevented, through integrated interventions from a social and cultural point of view; because evidently not enough has been done, at all institutional levels, if it is not possible to reduce the risk of safety for those who work exposed to the public in the healthcare sector. It is a defeat for everyone not to be able to guarantee doctors and operators the right to work peacefully.”