The case of the doctor assaulted at the Târgu Jiu hospital by several relatives of a patient shows the vulnerabilities of the Romanian system in terms of preventing such situations. According to the European model, the Romanian College of Doctors will launch a mechanism for reporting and monitoring cases of violence throughout the country, Dr. Carmen Pantiș, vice president of CMR, told “Adevărul”. And the Minister of Health reacted and even thinks that aggression towards doctors should be classified as an insult.
Dr. Carmen Pantiș, details about the mechanism prepared by the College of Physicians
“There is a directive of the European Union and we, the College of Doctors from Romania, align ourselves with it. Directive to carefully monitor all existing violence in Romania against medical personnel, but especially against doctors. Of course the incident at Târgu Jiu is troubling and hard to believe, but such things happen. We will launch a form through which we will try to analyze absolutely all cases of violence that occur“said Dr. Carmen Pantiș, vice-president of the Council of Doctors from Romania.
Doctors affected by violence (whether physical or verbal) will be able to “the signal, through an alert mechanism, also at the level of the Romanian College of Physicians”.
Dr. Carmen Pantiș stated that the situation in Romania is not unique and that there is a concern within the European Council of the Order of Doctors regarding the aggressions faced by doctors.
“Even in Spain and Portugal, many situations of aggression against female doctors, between the ages of 35 and 45, have been identified. Colleagues from Spain and Portugal said that the greatest aggression often happens in the emergency department, where there is a lot of waiting, in psychiatric clinics or in ATI, where there are a lot of communication problems”, added the doctor.
Alexandru Rogobete: “Why not, let’s consider that such manifestations can be included in the area of outrage”
For his part, the Minister of Health announced that he wants more measures to protect doctors.
“It seems crazy to me that in 2026 the Minister of Health will come on TV and tell people “please don’t go to hospitals and beat the doctors”. But this is the reality we live in, unfortunately, and then I think we will have to come up with clear, concrete, simple legislative measures that can be easily applied and that will protect the medical staff from such characters who, from my point of view, should answer to the law. (…) I am referring to protective measures for medical personnel and, why not, let’s consider that such manifestations can be included in the area of outrage”, said Alexandru Rogobete, quoted by News.ro.
Dr. Cătălina Poiană: “Protecting doctors is not optional”
And the president of the College of Doctors, Dr. Cătălina Poiană, reacted: “Violence against doctors is unacceptable! No form of aggression against medical personnel can be tolerated in a society that respects the medical profession and understands the role of the DOCTOR. (…)
As the president of the College of Doctors in Romania, I have the following message: protecting doctors is not optional, it is essential for the safety of the medical act and for the optimal functioning of the health system. I know and understand that, in the vast majority, the population understands the role of the doctor and respects the position of the doctor, but I know that there are also these cases of violence against doctors, and they can be reduced and stopped by our joint efforts, of the medical body and the authorities, but also of society as a whole and together let’s say” Dr. Cătălina Poiană wrote on Facebook.
She also announced that the institution she leads will initiate a public company, called “STOP Violence and Aggression on Doctors!”, and in this sense she appeals to CNA to support the initiative.
Dr. Adrian Marinescu: “The law must intervene”
Doctor Adrian Marinescu, manager of the “Matei Balș” National Institute of Infectious Diseases, told “Adevărul” that clearer legal sanctions are needed so that such situations do not happen again: “This aggressiveness in relation to the medical staff – it’s not just doctors – is an image of society. Aggression exists in society (and not only in Romania, in the modern world) to a great extent, unfortunately. It’s about education.
Obviously, it’s something that nobody wants, it’s not acceptable, and I think the law is the one that has to intervene. Those people who are aggressive must answer to the law. (…) They are the same laws for everyone and they must be respected. And probably if there will be some much clearer examples, people will understand that they cannot behave in this way”.
