Three-Quarters of Healthcare Professionals Report Assaults in Germany

Insults, threats, and even physical attacks have become part of everyday life for many healthcare professionals in Germany. According to a survey released on Thursday, 75 percent of doctors, nurses, and medical staff reported experiencing violence or conflict situations at least once in the past year. These encounters, the study found, also have psychological consequences, ranging from fear and insecurity to thoughts of leaving the profession.

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The survey was conducted by the polling institute YouGov on behalf of the medical platform Doctolib, with results shared with the AFP news agency in Berlin. Two-thirds of respondents (66 percent) said they had experienced verbal aggression or insults from patients, while 38 percent reported being threatened within the past twelve months. One in four healthcare workers said they had been physically assaulted.

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The study’s authors described it as “particularly alarming in times of staff shortages” that such experiences lead to growing doubts about career choice, especially among younger professionals aged 25 to 34, where 32 percent expressed doubts, compared with 16 percent among those over 55. The psychological toll was significant: two-thirds (67 percent) said they felt anger over a lack of respect. Men reported feeling fear and insecurity more often than women (39 percent versus 35 percent) and were also more likely to consider changing jobs (27 percent versus 21 percent).

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Nearly half (46 percent) of participants blamed “the public’s half-knowledge and unmet expectations” for the rise in aggression, while 42 percent cited long waiting times. In doctors’ practices, respondents most often attributed incidents to organizational issues such as delays (51 percent) and scheduling problems (47 percent). In hospitals, 45 percent said the main factor was patients being “overwhelmed by their illness or injury.”

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The German government has already announced a new law aimed at better protecting healthcare workers from violence. The proposed tightening of regulations received support from about two-thirds of those surveyed. Respondents also called for additional measures, including more security staff in healthcare facilities (47 percent), awareness campaigns promoting respectful behavior among patients (46 percent), and psychological support for those affected by violence (46 percent).

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