Tighten security to protect medical staff from the risk of assault

Alarming situation

On the morning of October 23, 2025, at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital (Truong Vinh ward), a particularly serious incident occurred: Ban Van Vy (born in 1996, residing in Luc Son commune, Bac Ninh province), while taking care of his wife giving birth, used a knife to attack the patient's family members and medical staff.

According to the suspect's initial statement, because his wife gave birth to twins and one of the children was in poor health and had to undergo intensive treatment, Vy felt that his children were not receiving proper attention from the hospital, and also suspected that the baby had been switched, so he became upset and lost control of his actions. Vy used a knife to attack and injure two other patients' relatives and three medical staff working at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital.

Ban Van Vy’s actions were determined to be hooligan, aggressive, and disregarding the lives and health of others, causing extremely serious consequences. The incident also shocked and angered both the medical sector and public opinion.

The incident at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital is not an isolated case. Previously, at many hospitals in the province, there were consecutive acts of assault on medical staff.

Specifically, on October 14, 2025, at Dien Chau General Hospital, Le Van Hoa (born in 1979, residing in Minh Chau commune), while completing procedures for his younger brother to be hospitalized due to a high fever, assaulted a medical staff member. Here, Hoa snatched a pen, choked the medical staff member and threatened to poke the pen into his eye. Hoa was then detained for disturbing public order under Article 318 of the Penal Code.

Or on the night of May 31, 2025, at the Emergency Department - Nghe An General Hospital, Tran Tuan Anh (born in 1997, residing in Vinh Hung ward) reached over the check-in counter and assaulted a medical staff member on duty. The incident was recorded by a camera and spread widely on social networks, causing public outrage. The Nghe An Provincial Police Investigation Agency immediately investigated and decided to temporarily detain Tran Tuan Anh.

Similar incidents have occurred not only in Nghe An but also in many hospitals across the country. The main acts are threats, insults, and even the use of weapons to cause injury. Most of the causes stem from frustration, lack of self-control, limited understanding of medical procedures, or long waiting times. But whatever the reason, attacking medical staff is still a violation of the law.

Tighten security, protect the "white shield" on the front line

Faced with the increasing number of assaults and threats against medical staff at medical facilities, the Ministry of Health has taken urgent steps to tighten hospital security.

On May 11, 2025, the Ministry of Health issued Document No. 2808/BYT-KCB to the Department of Health of provinces, cities and medical examination and treatment facilities, on strengthening security and safety for patients and medical staff. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health requested units to review, consolidate and fully deploy measures to ensure security and order according to the provisions of Article 114 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023. Proactively develop plans to prevent and respond to situations of disturbance and assault on medical staff; Urgently review, install and maintain security camera systems in key areas such as the Examination Department, Emergency Department, duty rooms, administrative corridors, hospital entrances...; Increase security personnel, arrange 24/7 duty at key locations, ensuring proactiveness in handling situations; Closely coordinate with police agencies and local authorities, proactively exchange information, coordinate to strictly handle violations of laws related to hospital security and safety...

In addition, the Ministry of Health also requires units to review the process of receiving and handling emergency cases, medical examination procedures and regulations on providing and exchanging information with patients and their relatives during medical examination and treatment; Strengthen education on professional ethics and codes of conduct; communication skills, situation handling... for medical staff.

In Nghe An, immediately after the direction of the Ministry of Health, on June 19, 2025, Nghe An Department of Health also issued an official dispatch to medical examination and treatment facilities regarding strengthening security and safety for staff.

However, many opinions say that tightening security, technology or administration is not enough. There needs to be a stronger legal mechanism to protect medical practitioners commensurate with the nature of life-saving work. Acts of attacking, threatening, and humiliating medical staff should be considered for handling as "resisting people on duty" or "intentionally causing injury" with a punishment framework that is sufficiently deterrent.

Besides, medical facilities also need to build a culture of behavior in hospitals, helping to reduce conflicts and create a civilized and humane medical examination and treatment environment.

It can be seen that the recent assaults on doctors and nurses have once again sounded the alarm about the lack of security in medical facilities. Therefore, protecting the safety of medical staff is not only the responsibility of the medical sector or the police, but must be seen as a common responsibility of the State and the whole society. Every act of attack, threat, or insult to medical staff needs to be strictly handled and set as a deterrent. Because, only when doctors work in a safe environment, can they wholeheartedly devote themselves to their noble mission - saving lives.