Reform and law enforcement will put doctors and patients at ease

Hundreds of medical personnel from First People's Hospital in Wenling city of Zhejiang province gathered to call for an end to violence against doctors, Oct 28, 2013. [Photo / icpress.cn]

The past month has seen an increase in attacks on medical workers, with at least 10 cases being reported in just 20 days. The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital recently adopted a special mechanism that calls for instant police intervention during emergencies to better protect its doctors and nurses. Comments:

Since the mechanism will help the hospital get timely police response against violence, it will play a key role in protecting its medical workers. The mechanism will enable targeted medical workers to report an incident to the police immediately, which will allow them to be moved to a safe place, and ensure that the perpetrators get due punishment. It will also ensure that the process of collecting evidence is fair, which will promote the rule of law.

People's Daily, July 8

Doctor-patient disputes are a lose-lose situation. They can only be resolved through proper interaction between the two sides through a mechanism like the one adopted by the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital. The local government should abide by a policy of zero tolerance for hospital-related violence and bring the culprits to justice. And reputable third-party negotiators should help protect the basic rights of patients based on facts and relevant laws.

eastday.com, July 4

The worsening doctor-patient relationship has a lot to do with the lack of channels through which patients can seek help when mistreated, as well as their anxiety over exorbitant medical fees and limited access to proper treatment. A comprehensive medical reform is needed to increase the financial aid for medical services and distribute resources in a fairer manner.

Beijing Youth Daily, June 25

Many are inclined to take a biased stance in a clash between patients and doctors, thinking it is a special case that needs a special solution. Actually, this mentality should be corrected, because it may force hospitals to compromise at the cost of their employees, leaving many cases unfairly dealt with.

Xinmin Evening News, June 23