Two Murders and 13 Injuries for Healthcare Workers in One Year

A Tehran-based newspaper reported an increase in violence against healthcare workers over the past year, noting that two have been killed and 13 severely injured since last autumn. The Ham-Mihan newspaper stated that the rise in violence occurs while the Ministry of Health lacks official statistics, and the Medical System Organization has no information on the extent of assaults on doctors. The newspaper highlighted the unfavorable working conditions for nurses and mentioned that statistics regarding violence against healthcare workers are limited to media reports. It referenced the murder of Dr. Masoud Davoodi, a cardiologist from Shahroud at Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, indicating that this trend does not bode well. Ahmad Valipour, president of the General Physicians Association, told the newspaper that violence against healthcare workers has intensified over the past few years to the point where murders are occurring. Valipour emphasized that 'we have asked the Ministry of Health and the Medical System Organization to seriously address this issue.' He noted that most violence occurs against general practitioners working in emergency and health centers, who are on the front lines of treatment. In this context, the Secretary of the Supreme Medical Council stated on November 30 that these acts of violence indicate a 'deep behavioral and cultural gap in society' that requires a broader and deeper perspective. Mohammad Reza Jabari remarked that 'statistics indicate an increase in violence against healthcare workers.' The head of the Coordination Council of Medical Systems in Lorestan reacted to the rising violence against healthcare workers in Iran, stating that this trend 'destroys trust between caregivers and patients and disrupts the treatment process,' leading to the emigration of doctors and healthcare staff to other countries. According to Aladdin Sheikhi, this trend reduces the quality of healthcare services in the country's health network. In recent days, following the murder of Dr. Masoud Davoodi, the head of the Medical System Organization announced sending a ten-point letter to the heads of the three branches of government to combat violence against healthcare workers. Reports indicate that Dr. Davoodi was murdered on the evening of November 21 in Yasuj, with the assailant first injuring his neck with a knife and then shooting him in the chest with a firearm. Iranian media reported that after committing the murder, the assailant took off the victim's clothes, wore them, took a selfie, and proudly shared the photo on social media while discussing revenge and threatening five other healthcare workers with murder. Reports suggest that the assailant believed Dr. Davoodi was responsible for his brother's death following a heart attack, but after reviewing the case, the family's complaint against Dr. Davoodi was ultimately dismissed as medical negligence.