A disturbing pattern of violence against medical professionals has been documented in the state of Rio de Janeiro, with nearly 1,000 doctors reporting some form of assault since 2018. The data, compiled by the Regional Council of Medicine of Rio de Janeiro (Cremerj) through its 'Portal Defesa Médica' platform, paints a grim picture of the dangers faced by healthcare workers on the front lines. The findings were brought to public attention in a recent report, underscoring a silent crisis unfolding within hospitals and health units across the state.
The statistics are stark and reveal a significant gender disparity among victims. Between 2018 and 2025, the council recorded 89 cases of physical assault, with 60 of those attacks targeting female physicians. The numbers for verbal aggression are even more alarming, with 459 incidents reported, of which 297 involved women doctors. Furthermore, 208 cases of moral harassment were logged, with 121 of those directed at female professionals. This consistent pattern indicates that women in the medical field are bearing a disproportionate burden of workplace violence.
The human cost behind these numbers is exemplified by the harrowing experience of Dr. Amanda Gil. She was physically attacked by a patient's mother during a night shift while conducting a re-evaluation. The mother, demanding an imaging exam for her child, did not accept the doctor's explanation about needing authorization from another facility. The situation escalated violently. "She mounted me on the stretcher, bit me, scratched me, beat me," Dr. Gil recounted. The assault was so severe that she was forced to file a police report and ultimately could not return to her pediatric shift, abandoning the post due to the trauma.
Another severe incident occurred at the Hospital de Irajá in July 2023. Dr. Sandra Rodrigues was alone on duty when she was assaulted by a father and daughter seeking treatment for a minor finger cut. During the attack, an 82-year-old patient in the critical care room died from cardiorespiratory failure. The doctor herself suffered a pelvic injury that left her with difficulty walking for nearly ten months and resulted in chronic pain. This case became a catalyst for change, prompting the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) to establish a resolution setting new security norms for hospital environments.
The CFM resolution mandates several protective measures, including the creation of escape routes, designated refuge spaces for professionals, and the installation of panic buttons in healthcare units. While some facilities have begun implementing these changes, Dr. Rodrigues notes that the vast majority of the public health network has not followed suit. She points to a troubling paradox: the precariousness of employment contracts has worsened the situation, as professionals are often threatened not to report assaults, fearing for their jobs.
The violence has tangible consequences for the healthcare system itself. Dr. Raphael Câmara, the rapporteur for the CFM resolution, stated that aggression against doctors leads to their withdrawal from high-risk areas. He highlighted the difficulty in finding physicians willing to work in certain communities in Rio due to threats and personal risk. This exodus of professionals from vulnerable areas exacerbates existing healthcare access issues for the population.
Leaders within the medical community are calling for decisive action. The president of Cremerj, Antônio Braga, has advocated for stricter measures to protect healthcare workers. "It is necessary to put a stop to violence against doctors. Without security there will be no doctors, and without doctors we will not have health," he declared. This sentiment captures the existential threat that unchecked violence poses to the stability and availability of medical care.
The situation in Rio de Janeiro serves as a critical case study for the broader challenge of ensuring safe working conditions for healthcare providers. The data from Cremerj provides a concrete foundation for understanding the scale of the problem, while the personal testimonies from physicians like Dr. Gil and Dr. Rodrigues illustrate the profound personal and professional toll. The implementation of security protocols like panic buttons represents a step forward, but the reports suggest that systemic change, including addressing contract precarity and ensuring consistent enforcement, is necessary to protect those who dedicate their lives to healing others.
Based on reporting from g1.
