Staff of the Szczecin hospital honored the memory of the murdered doctor

In front of the gate of the University Clinical Hospital No. 2 PUM in Szczecin, a minute of silence was observed on Tuesday at noon in memory of the tragically deceased Dr. Tomasz Solecki – an orthopedic surgeon from Krakow who was murdered by a patient. As a gesture of mourning and solidarity, candles were lit, and the hospital staff paused for a moment of silence and reflection.

- It's hard to talk about what happened. It's hard to accept, understand, or take it in - admitted Dr. Magdalena Wiśniewska, the hospital's medical director. - None of us could imagine that we, as doctors, could be attacked, much less die at the hands of a patient, in a place where lives are saved.

As she pointed out, cases of aggression against medical personnel are becoming more frequent. Although so far they have been mostly verbal or psychological, there are also cases of physical attacks. The death of Dr. Solecki has become a brutal symbol of the growing problem.

- As doctors, nurses, paramedics, orderlies, we are exposed to aggression every day - said Dr. Wiśniewska. - And it's not just about situations resulting from patients' illness. More and more often we encounter pure, groundless aggression - the kind that cannot be justified by pain, fear, or frustration.

The medical director stressed that healthcare workers are becoming scapegoats for a flawed system. Doctors are seen as the face of the healthcare system.

- But we have no influence on how it functions. We do not decide on budgets, staff, or queues, and yet we are the ones who take on all the anger of patients and their families - she noted.

Dr Wiśniewska also commented on the disturbing tone of some comments appearing in the media and on the Internet following the tragedy in Kraków:

"We cannot, as a society, give even tacit consent to aggression. Explanations such as: 'maybe he waited too long' or 'maybe the doctor was rude' are not only inappropriate - they are dangerous. This is no reason to hurt anyone," she said firmly. "We are clear: there is no consent to violence against medical personnel. We have the right to work with a sense of security and respect."

(dg)