Health care workers are increasingly coming under attack from people they have dedicated their lives to help.

National reports show that violence and abuse of health care workers has risen since 2020, with up to eight in 10 nurses saying they have experienced physical or verbal abuse from patients in recent years.

A new study indicates that in the last two years, 44% of nurses reported being subject to physical violence, and 68% reported verbal abuse. In a survey of physicians published last year, 23% reported being personally attacked on social media.

The topic has been discussed at meetings of the Western Pennsylvania Regional Chief Medical Officers Consortium, which is made up of area chief medical officers and meets regularly to discuss topics and issues facing health care.

“Statistics are showing that assaults are becoming more commonplace within medicine. This group has kept an eye on that,” said Dr. David Rottinghaus, chief medical officer at Butler Health System and a member of the consortium. “There have been attempts to bring guns into these facilities ... reports of threats and verbal altercations.”

Nationally, violent outbursts directed toward health care workers from patients increased during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when stress and anxiety escalated in places such as the emergency room.

Such words and actions are irresponsible and dangerous and compromise the ability of health professionals to provide much-needed care to patients and communities. It’s causing many to leave their professions. Many cite a lack of appreciation for the work they do.

Most of the attacks are verbal, but inflammatory rhetoric, whether in person or through social media posts, has become commonplace and intense.

We understand that people are not at their best in an emergency room. It’s tense, stressful and worrisome. Most people there are not feeling their best. A person who could be experiencing an emergency may react badly to hospital workers due to the stress and uncertainty of their condition.

We also understand that we're living in very stressful times, and there is a higher level of anxiety. Of course, when you're sick and feeling bad, that makes things worse.

Nevertheless, verbally or physically abusing a health care professional who is trying to help you is not the answer.

— JGG