Doctors call for blacklist of aggressive patients

The National Council of the Order of Doctors in Belgium is urging the creation of a blacklist in order to identify patients with a history of aggressive behaviour, write Le Soir and Het Laatste Nieuws. The proposal comes after a doctor was stabbed on Thursday in Forest, only one in a series of incidents of violence against physicians in recent years.

"The idea is not to deprive people of their right to health care, but to provide it for them under enhanced security when we see that the patient has a history of violence," says the Council president Benoît Dejemeppe.

“The principle of shared professional secrecy will be discussed at the next meeting," promises justice minister Koen Geens. "But it is a complex issue and within the current legal framework – with respect for the patient's confidentiality – it is not possible. However, together with the other ministers, Maggie De Block and Jan Jambon, and the partners of the regional governments, we will look at how we can create more safety for our healthcare providers.”

A recent study of 218 physicians in Belgium found that 63% have dealt with violence at work, including physical violence in one-fifth of the cases.