Naples - Another assault has occurred at the emergency room of the Vecchio Pellegrini hospital in Naples. This is the forty-fifth incident of 2025, according to data released by the ASL Napoli 1 Centro, which, along with Napoli 2 Nord, has already recorded 59 incidents of violence against doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers since the beginning of the year.
The association "Nessuno tocchi Ippocrate," which has been monitoring assaults in hospital wards for years, has reported yet another case. The incident occurred on the night between Saturday and Sunday, when a 118 emergency crew responded to the Central Station to assist a Moroccan man who was clearly intoxicated and very agitated.
Despite the difficulties in managing the situation and the lack of support for safe transportation, paramedics managed to load the man into the ambulance and take him to the emergency room at the Spanish Quarter hospital. But upon arrival, tensions erupted: while exiting the vehicle, the patient grabbed the onboard fire extinguisher and shattered the ambulance window, threatening the emergency responders.
In a rage, the man even spat in the face of a security guard who had come to assist the medical staff. Only the timely intervention of a police car prevented further harm: the officers were able to subdue the man, who, after receiving the necessary medical attention, was taken to the police station for further assessment.
The incident shines a spotlight on a seemingly daily occurrence in city emergency rooms. "Every day, doctors and nurses risk their lives," commented the association Nessuno tocchi Ippocrate, "while the local health authority (ASL) continues to publish social media posts with smiles and motivational quotes. A little concrete solidarity towards those who are attacked wouldn't be out of place."
An appeal that, sadly, is repeated after every episode of violence. Meanwhile, amid damaged ambulances, threats, and fear, the feeling remains that the safety of healthcare workers in Neapolitan emergency rooms remains an unresolved issue.
Comments (1)
The situation in Naples' emergency rooms is truly worrying. Attacks on healthcare workers are too frequent, and no one seems to be doing enough to protect those who work in this sector. We must find concrete solutions.