Attacks on doctors: increase of +27% in France, explosion of +41% in Occitanie, the worrying results for the year 2023

En 2023, 1581 incidents ont été recensés. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

The year 2023 saw a surge in acts of violence against doctors: +27% of acts, for a total of 1,581 reports, including 147 in Occitanie. An “extremely worrying” assessment according to the National Order of Physicians, which published the document this Tuesday, October 8. General practitioners are the most affected.

Traditionally released in October, the report of the annual Observatory of the safety of doctors was published this Tuesday, October 8, a few days after a 20-year-old woman was sentenced to one year in prison for committing violence against a general practitioner in the northern districts of Marseille who had refused a prescription.

The findings of the Order of Physicians, which conducted the survey with the assistance of Ipsos, are "alarming". “The survey, based on declarations of incidents and attacks reported to the departmental councils of the Order, reports 1,581 cases in 2023, compared to 1,244 in 2022” ;, an increase of + 27 %.

In Occitania, where 147 incidents were recorded in 2023 , the increase is even higher: +41%.

L’Hérault (38 declarations), the Haute-Garonne (32 reports) and Gard (25) are the most impacted departments. In Aude, there were 12 incidents, and 10 in Pyrénées-Orientales. Aveyron (3 reports) and Lozère (1 declaration) are much less affected.

Fewer incidents in rural areas

The study of 1,581 reports, a figure unheard of since the observatory was set up in 2003 (638 incidents were reported at the time), shows that general practitioners “are the most affected”, they represent “64”% of reports”.

Among specialists, psychiatrists (3% of attacks), ophthalmologists, occupational physicians, obstetrician-gynecologists and cardiologists (2% for each speciality) are the most affected. concerned.

54% of victims work in urban areas, in the city center, in the suburbs (18%), and 24% in rural areas. The incidents mainly take place during a city exercise (72%). Only 0.5% of attacks take place in an emergency department.

Women are more affected: 56% of attacks

A "reproach relating to care" is the leading reason for aggression (38%) ahead of “refusal to prescribe medication or sick leave” (19%), “falsification of documents” (12%), “waiting time deemed excessive” (10%) and theft (7%).

In 2022 as in 2023, women (56% of attacks) are more affected while they represent 50% of doctors.

“The incidents range from verbal attacks and threats (73%) to physical attacks (8%), including thefts (8%) and vandalism (7%)”, the Order further specifies. The use of a weapon remains exceptional: 2% of attacks.

Barely “31% of doctors who reported violence to the Order filed a complaint, and 7% filed a report”.

“Faced with this alarming situation, concerted action by all stakeholders in the health system is necessary to guarantee the safety of doctors in the exercise of their profession”, alert the observatory in a press release.