Give medical personnel a good medical environment! Health Bureau, Taichung City Government, and Taichung District Prosecutors Office co-hosted the “Medical Violence Preventing Report” training seminar on January 10th. Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-ying attended the seminar to encourage and cheer up medical personnel. She hopes that through this training seminar, various units can cooperate together and implement the “double reporting” mechanism of reporting to local police office and the prosecutors office and consequent punishment mechanisms in order to give the citizens and medical personnel a safe and peaceful medical environment.

“Medical Violence Preventing Report” seminar took place at City Government Building on Taiwan Boulevard and around 150 representatives from hospitals, medical associations, clinics, and police offices attended the seminar. Head Prosecutor Kuo Ching-wen from Taichung District Prosecutors Office, the Health Bureau and Taichung City Police Department shared their knowledge on medical violence preventing report procedures, incidents that will interrupt medical orders at hospitals, and the SOP on accepting criminal cases.

“Zero-tolerance on violence!” Deputy Mayor Lin emphasized that medical institutes are life-saving places that are commonly used by all citizens and medical personnel dedicated themselves in saving patients’ lives. Therefore, quarrels are not allowed in medical institutes or clinics, as well as any violent behavior towards medical personnel.

She pointed out that the incident that occurred in Kuang Tien General Hospital in which a registered nurse was beaten by a fellow citizen caused nationwide uproar. She thanked Taichung District Prosecutors Office in stipulating “Fundamentals for the Prevention of Medical Violence” and the establishment of the “double reporting” mechanism in which when medical personnel are being threatened or met with violence, they should report to both the police office and the prosecutors office. If there are offenders are found to have violated the Criminal Law or Medical Care Law, an investigation will be taken place and the offender will be arrested immediately under the command of the prosecutor. Such measures allow medical personnel to treat patients at ease.

Head Prosecutor Kuo Ching-wen from Taichung District Prosecutors Office stated that when encountering medical violence, one should dial 110 to call the police immediately. After the police arrived, arrested red-handed offenders, confirmed who are the victims, collected and preserved evidence, and had taken other measures, the prosecutors office and Health Bureau should be notified at once. She emphasized that, according to Medical Care Law, medical violence is not a crime that is indictable only upon complaint. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of the judicial procedure and seek private settlement.

The Health Bureau stated that after receiving medical violence reports , the caring mechanism will be activated which includes the hospital and medical personnel. It will further request the hospital and the police office to provide related evidence and conduct investigation and prosecution according to law. The city government and Taichung District Prosecutors Office will also work together to integrate the medical violence reporting form and its SOP in order to simplify the reporting procedure of medical institutes.