Defendant given 8 years, 5 months in prison for violence against physicians

"Everyone should know: If there is violence, there is no service" " Enact the law on violence in healthcare" (Photo: Evrensel)

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The trial of the assaulter who battered two assistant physicians and took them hostage at the pediatrics service of Pamukkale University Medical Faculty Hospital has ended in the assaulter's penalization.

At the final hearing held at the Denizli 7th Criminal Court of First Instance, the statements of the complainant physicians were heard.

The defendant who entered the rest room of the physicians without permission faced penalization on charges of "threat", "insult", "restriction of liberty", "breach of residence immunity and wilful injury".

The court has ruled that the arrested assaulter shall be sentenced to 1 years, 10 months, 15 days in prison on charge of "wilful injury of healthcare workers due to their duties", 4 years, 2 months in prison for "restriction of liberty",1 year, 6 months, 22 days in prison for "insulting health workers due to their duties" and 10 months in prison for "breach of residence immunity by force and threat." In total, the defendant has been sentenced to 8 years, 5 months, 7 days in prison over violence in healthcare.

Considering that the defendant was also convicted on May 28, 2021, the court board has ruled that the imprisonment of the defendant shall continue and that the prison sentence shall be increased as per the Additional Article 12 of the Basic Law on Health Services.

What happened?

On January 15, the suspect came to the Denizli Pamukkale University Hospital in western Turkey to sell perfumes, entered the physicians' room and had a row with a physician. Taken into custody for battering the physician, the assaulter was released from detention later on.

The Denizli Chief Public Prosecutor's Office appealed against the assaulter's release on probation. Detained again, the assaulter was arrested by the criminal judgeship of peace on duty. (RT/SD)