MAM condemns attack on doctor - calls for security

Some of us have stories to tell - and we have told them where it matters, to no avail, because promises have so far remained unfulfilled. But a doctor is not "the" medical profession, although he represents it at the very moment he is not honouring his Hippcratic oath. We do not really know why the doctor was attacked; although violence is never to be condoned, none of us who have commented here can really ascertain what happened from what is carried in this non-committal report.

Yes, doctors' salaries in the public sector are poor and their working conditions very trying.. and yes, aggression is aggression and can never be condoned, even if provoked.

BUT, there is a question of attitude here. In the old bygone days, the top three village personalities who held absolute power and adulation within the village confines were the parish priest, the police inspector and the village doctor. You depended on them for almost anything, including the filling of official forms. Today, the parish priest and police inspector are respected only as persons and professionals, nothing more. But some village doctors still hang on to the myth that they are akin to God Almighty, and some are cold and snobbish when talking down to their patients in a stomach turning patronising manner, without showing any sympathy to a patient's state of emotion and deep anxieties when faced with sickness striking them and their loved ones.

This attitude by SOME doctors must be addressed by MAM and the doctors themselves. Hopefully then, we will see less and less aggression addressed at doctors - even though any aggression, I repeat, is to be outrightly condemned, no matter their root cause,

As a dentist previously working in Malta, earnings in the public sector were very poor and conditions far from good. I have generally been respected by Maltese patients (I worked in Paola, Bormla and Mosta) but it entailed a lot of unseen personal sacrifice. This includes working under pressure, giving good advice and having to work privately after hours to make ends meet. I feel that going out of my way to be of service was not appreciated neither by my employer (government) and sometimes nor by the patients. A car service, by the way,often costs around Lm 30, and that is seen as reasonable - sometimes it's the body that needs a health check .

I have worked as a GP in the public sector for the past 9 years, and unfortunately I come across abuse daily. We encounter abuse in the GP waiting room, where clients would have sometimes been waiting for hours before being attended to. They are obviously frustrated, but with drastic staff shortage, the least they can do is TRY and wait patiently. Urgent cases are seen in the treatment room, and sometimes I have had to 'cover' both GP and treatment room cases together, because I would be the only doctor present. I have had patients knocking repeatedly and physically pushing open the door, shouting and swearing because, in their opinion, I have spent too much time with one patient. The shortage of staff does not mean that I have to race through consultations. But that is what most people expect, as long as this doesn't mean I have to rush through THEIR consultation. I am not elitist, I don't have a private practice because I have a family to nurture, I am paid miserably despite post-grad qualifications, but I like my work. I just wish to be shown the respect I myself show towards my clients and work colleagues.

Thanks Mr Bartolo.

@Anne-Marie Scerri:

I very sincerily appreciate the educated way you corrected me. People like you make one appreciate the act of being corrected.

Thanks and keep it up.

Doctors provide a service to all. They are not magicians or plumbers. These highly responsible and ethical people must be able to assess your condition by what they see, feel and hear. they also ask the patient about what they are or have been doing to fix their health.I know from past experience that doctors do not like to be lied to or laughed at. If you do not want to get shouted at by a doctor do not go to them. Their pay is miserly and I am amazed that you still get doctors in the public sector.

I suggest for those who dislike doctors to go on the internet and read about their condition. When they are aware of their sickness then buy the medicine from the internet. SEE!!! You do not need a doctor But if you go to one just do what they say and keep your mouth shut. You are so lucky to have free medical care. If I was the Health Minister I would charge each patient 10 Eu and then you can claim it from the tax office when you pay your tax. Then we see who the poor people are.

All I can say is do unto others as you expect others to do unto you,I did go to Paola health centre at 2 am with my daughter who fell on her way to the toilet and got fantastic treatment, I did go there at 10 pm after having an accident on a Christmas eve, and each time even when things where really bad as in my accident needing 8 stitches to my head and a dislocated shoulder we received good treatment, I attribute the fact to me and my family being courteous to the staff, saying please and thankyou doesn't cost anything.Some people think that because the service is for free they have some god given right over the doctors and staff,and some of it might also be political,but most of it is sheer ignorance of the Public,I mean hearing someone swearing his head off as he climbs up the steps simply because his wife dragged him away from the bar cause his 3 year old has a fever does not auger well for his relationship with the staff.I urge you to spend some time at this infamous clinic to see what the staff have to face each day.

AGGRESSION IS AN AGGRESSION, AND AS SUCH SHOULD BE CONDEMNED, irrespective of whether the doctor in question is competent or not, arrogant or well mannered.



Apart, other issues brought foward here, concern doctor's earnings, fiscal receipt and so on are all irrelevant. Obviously, doctors are legally bound to forward a reciept as well as to present their yearly income for taxation, but what has this to do with the article in question? Or, does these issues justify an aggression?

It is nice to note, that the medical profession, has a considerable number of good and exceptional examples. Everyone knows for certainty, that there are Doctors who deserve every respect for their excellent rapport with their patients. Hence, I would like to publicly thank these Doctors for their outstanding example. I can only congratulate them for their dedication and hard work.

Finally, I apologize with all those who may have seen my posts as too negative. I hope that MAM sees that the medical profession, is not tarnished by the bad example of the few.

Well done and keep it up for all the hard working and genuine Doctors. The people appreciate your work.

Thanks.

It's because of all the points mentioned below, that I will definitely not be wasting my career in Malta once I graduate as a doctor. I really love to help people and nothing beats voluntary work, but I am a citizen who wants a family too, and being underpaid and overworked would be satisfactory (definitely not perfect) if at least I had respect for doing one of the most difficult and stressful jobs, rather than the irrelevant, never-ending and ever repetitive arguments on Fiscal receipts and "arrogance" issues which one finds in the comments of every article involving doctors.

RIght. Lets have the NHS like England. Your GP will see you only by appointment, 9-5pm and monday to friday. out of hours? call 911 or get stuffed. If you even hint at verbal violence, you land in front of a magistrate, and you will have up to 10 years to reflect why you screwed up. For all that, a gp gets over 100, 000 pounds per year, excluding perks and private work. A private gp visit costs you 40 pounds. (how does that compare to a maltese consultant?). So the next time you see one of those bleary eyed, dead-tired, over used and underpaid heroes working at your health centers (a third world joke) take off your hat to them, thank them and shake their hand.

Some posters seem to assume that, all those who express differing opinions from theirs, are arrogant, a threat to society etc. This is definitely not a sign of intelligence, because, an open minded 21st century individual, values the diversity of opinions. Discussing "hot topics", shouldn't be a taboo, even in Malta. However, some feel that by over-reacting to opposing opinions, their point, may be made more justifiable and more acceptable. I only pity such an attitude, and yearn for the time, when the Maltese society as a whole, starts discussing hot topics in an educated way.

I am a medical student. This means that I am at the beginning of my medical training and have a good 15 or so years ahead of me until I can complete it. And in that time and the next part of my life I will be faced with daily situations where I cannot make a mistake because I am holding someone's life in my hands. Yes, as cliched as this sounds, it is, undeniably the truth. I, and many others, are dedicating ourselves to deliver a service to the people. And yet, this is how we are repaid; with attacks, rude comments, and a substantial dose of the ignorance of this population.

Arrogance or no arrogance, there is nothing that condones physical violence. Furthermore, there are people commenting here *not* about how disgraceful such an act of violence is, but applauding the act and saying that 'doctors deserve it'. I am ashamed to be a part of the society we have become.

When I was studying in a Scottish Hospital, known for its excellence, One would see posters all over the place saying that there was zero tolerance regarding aggression towards healthcare staff.
P.S. e bartolo, you make it so obvious that you know nothing about the medical world...
besides,most doctors have PhDs nowadays (not PHD) and most of the young doctors running around the hospital are Specialist Trainees doing Specialist Royal College Exams... PhDs are about research and there are many Doctors who have Published papers in the world's most prominent journals without having a PhD and have made a difference to Scientific advances more than other people with PhDs. All doctors do continuing Professional Development Programmes and Medicine is about lifelong learning.The local situation is very stressful on all hospital departments.So stress may play a role. but to be honest I have seen very few Doctors with lesser bedside manners, while I have seen many ungrateful patients complaining because they don't want to wait their turn in outpatients or casualty; there is something called triage i.e. the most urgent gets seen first,and above all just stop bellyaching and be thankful that you don't pay extra for excellent health service!

Dear Mangion, I turn to teachers because your union in the first place wants your pay to be similar to that of doctors. Besides, N Cassar mentioned teachers...

Quote: J Martinelli
"Some comments below are shameful and indicative of the low appreciation of the medical profession and an indicator of their low intelligence."

So, let me explain more clearly:

It is known that intelligence is not uniform, that is, people differ in their intellectual abilities.

Is it a sign of intelligence to offend someone, without knowing him/her inside out? Don't you think, that some less intelligent people, would opt to use the only defense mechanism available to them, that is, physical violence? Why? The answer is simply because, violence instigates violence and emotional abuse, is a form of psychological violence.

Trying to call me names, will not daunt me, because no one has the right, to use violence, PHYSICAL OR NOT!

It is a well known fact that the take-home pay of most GPs is lower than that of a car mechanic or electrician. Doctors and nurses are working under extreme pressure in Malta, especially Mater Dei and the Health Centres. They have to face on a daily basis an arrogant public (of the type of eddie bartolo). Have you ever visited an outpatient clinic to see the 'goat market' (suq tal-moghoz) that exists there? That is the situation that our top professionals have to work in.

Let make things clear. Not every doctor is a GP. Many of them work in hospital, they work long hours, they are paid a pittance (less then the lecturers in the university for much more work) and they pay regular taxes. The GPs have agreed a deal with the government where they pay X amount of money as a quota whether that quota is reached or not. Therefore unlike the many 'bajjada' and other self employed people who forget to give you the VAT receipt for their lm300 a room work, many doctors do pay taxes.

We live in a country where its ok to pay hundreds or thousands for the graffiato but we then get scandalised if a doctor asks us for lm5 for a home visit. These people had been studying throughout their lives, much of which spent abroad while working 60 - 70 hrs a week. If you think that doctors have an easy life then why don't you become one? Ah I forgot its a tough course which many of you wouldn't pass from the first year.

Doctors can live without Malta but does Malta afford to live without doctors? Think about it.

Typical North American doctor (GP - private practice)

1. Controls number of patients.
2. When has ideal number of patients will refuse new patients.
3. Charges for letter, certificate, missed appointments etc.
4. Does not make house calls.
5. If patient calls in with problem - instructs patient to call ambulance or go to A & E.
6. Some have one day a week off - In emergency go to A & E or local clinics.

Some cities have twenty thousand or more families who cannot find a doctor. In Malta there is an average of one doctor for every 300 people - a luxury.

A typical GP in Malta, does house calls, charges a small fee per visit, has no set number of patients no set number of hours and no day off unless he/she turns off the phone on a Sunday. In return the GP has to face ugly individuals who deserve nothing but scorn.

Furthermore, there are creeps who use violence against the very doctors who they rely on when ill! Unbelievable.

Some comments below are shameful and indicative of the low appreciation of the medical profession and an indicator of their low intelligence.

As a doctor working abroad, I can sincerely make a decent comparison and all I can say is that Doctors still working in Malta are doing charity work! The doctor cover system in Mater Dei hospital works only because of the benevolence of doctors and other staff alike. The hospital is badly short staffed and if doctors had to decide to go on a normal 40-50 hour week the system would crumble. People complain of doctor arrogance, surely there are a few who need better manners, but what about the constant abuse we receive from patients treated in the public system?

Australia has a shortage of doctors, however the situation here does not even come close to the situation in Malta. Here I work a decent 38 hr week with a much better wage and infinite opportunities of training together with receiving respect from patients and authorities alike.

Bear in mind one thing, a GP home visit costs less than that of the TV or washing machine technician, despite all the studying, stress and risks a doctor has to take. A simple home visit here will easily set your wallet back a good 20 to 25 maltese liri.

Dawn m'humiex argumenti imma ghira kontra t-tobba u gheneb qares. Il-fees li kkwotajtu huma ftit aktar minn ta skilled worker.

@ C Micallef
You amaze me! Why must you always turn on teachers to justify your cause? I'm sure that teachers are four square with doctors on this yet you do everything in your power to drive a wedge between the two professions. If you have to fight for more rights for the health workers do so by any means but not at other professionals' expense. Are you now so desperate as to compare who is getting more beatings between doctors and teachers?

B Sant. I had spent many long months at all the local hospitals. I had received wonderful service and treatment by all the doctors and specialists Considering the long period that I had spent from one hospital to the other the number of minor mishaps was minimal. THE ONLY TIME THAT I WAS TREATED IN A VERY ARROGANT WAY, WAS ONLY TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN A FOREIGN SPECIALIST WAS ROUGH AND WOULD NOT ACCEPT HUMAN RAPPORT. TO CROWN IT HE TOLD THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO SEE ME. iT WAS ONLY FOR A MALTESE SPECIALIST WHO HAD INTERVENED AND GAVE ME FIRST CLASS SERVICE. ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE MORE DETAILS I AM WILLING TO OBLIGE.

Doctors should not only have security at the health centres but they should be also provided with security or at least accompanied by an nurse when they are called for home visits especially during the night. The risk involved is too much especially for the miserable pay being paid to doctors. This should be addressed before it is too late.

Quote: Nick Galea
"I agree with Claudine and co. e.Bartolo and those who share his beliefs are the problem of this country.They seem to think that violence is justified!"

Speak for yourself Mr. I am against violence as much as you are. However, emotional violence is seen by some Doctors, as a legitimate means to intimidate those who they may dislike. This occurred to me more than just once, so I cannot say, that it was just a coincidence.

Quote: Nick Galea
"If you have been emotionally abused fine report it; you have a right to do so"

Are you serious?! You want to take me for a ride, eh? I am assuming that, you know the Maltese saying, "Kappell ma jmilx lill-ieħor!" Do you think, I have the time to waste struggling with a useless board reporting abuse just to be disappointed and frustrated in the end?!

The proof that I am against all violence is that, I didn't resort to it notwithstanding the vile remarks I had to endure. Is this not enough as a proof that I abhor violence?! After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

INCIDENCE OF VIOLENT ATTACKS IS PROBABLY MORE COMMON IN HEALTH

There are less than 1400 registered medical doctors in Malta and the incidence of violent attacks is still high. Let alone if we had over 6,000 doctors as there are teachers in Malta!!! So, when it comes to statistics please, do not compare doctors with educators.

A couple of people on this blog should be utterly ashamed of themselves. I'm a medical student and aim to be a good doctor - and I see many of these daily at hospital on ward rounds, and how they slave away to provide a good service to an occasionally oblivious and sometimes violently ungrateful public. Before passing such utterly vulgar comments, people like E. Bartolo should try fill a doctor's shoes for some time and see how he likes it.

Yes, doctors are terribly underpaid and overworked. That doctors are super-rich is a myth.

Ray Gatt. How cheeky. If you don't like doctors charging you money, then simple - don't go see them privately. If you decided to see them privately expect a fee and don't grumble. It's not like doctors in Malta charge exorbitant fees - I'd like to see you pay for a doctor in other places in Europe or America were the service is often inferior to that here.

Get real and stop whining about everything. Appreciate that there are people out there willing to sacrifice the best years of their lives to see others in good health.

I agree with Claudine and co. e.Bartolo and those that share his beliefs are the problem of this country.They think that violence is justified! If you have been emotionally abused fine report it; you have a right to do so,and should do, but to say that doctors deserve to be beaten up is disgusting,so pls do not talk about deserving...not even the bus drivers deserve to be beaten up and surely no doctor demonstrates the arrogance that they did when they caused last summer's embarrasment!
re Ray Gatt - your GP made Eur80 in 20mins but that is privately not like the beaten doc at Paola clinic...sure he was not making that...plus to say 'he just took my blood etc' what a joke...if so simple u sld have become a doc!

It really is amazing how a cut-and-dry case of an assault on a doctor has been turned into a vicious attack on the medical profession by many correspondents here.
Everybody is entitled to be treated with respect but if one isn't, then there are avenues that one can take - report the doctor to the Medical Council - violence can never, ever be justified!

I am a doctor. Yesterday I went for work, at Mater Dei at 7.30 am. I returned home today at 3.30 p.m. That means 32 hours of work and I slept for three hours only. You feel crap after such a duty. I have not ridiculed anybody or looked down on anybody. Tomorrow I am back to work for another 24hrs i.e. no rest period. And it is tremendously depressing to see the appreciation of your fellow citizens in these comments. Unbelievable.

We are living in a society where if you are the victim of something (e.g. a teacher being hit, a doctor being attacked) they make you feel as if you are the problem, not the attacker.

The best comment so far was of that person who said that despite being a christian country he is amazed by the unchristian comments on these blogs.

The majority of Maltese doctors at government hospitals works inhumane shifts like these on a regular basis. We earn Lm3.00 per hour for your information, and then you get all this. And then you pretend that doctors don't go abroad.

Simply unbelievable

Let's follow the British NHS example - members of the public who behave aggressively towards ANY member of the health care set-up (be it a doctor, nurse or cleaner), should face up to 10 years in jail if found guilty. And extend this to protect ALL workers - be it in education, the civil service and the private sector.

While any physical attack is simply unacceptable. Most Local doctors should change their attitude. Having been in touch with foreign doctors. ..... the difference is substantial,,,, they listen to you....do not ridicule you if you disagree or have another opinion and they will change their mind if they think your argument makes sense...
Here doctors work differently...their opinion is final ...no listening....no discussions and they lookd down on you. Having said that there are a handful who are available 24hours a day and they really are worth the money you pay them... but in the minority

@ Nick Galea - Doctors underpaid? You've got to be kidding. I'll tell you a story. I wanted to do a general checkup. I asked my GP and told him that I would rather have it done at Mater Dei for obvious reasons. He told me that I can't just go to hospital, so he suggested a private consultation first. A 10 minute physical check up cost me €40. Then I was asked to go to Mater Dei for the rest of the tests, which I did. Obviously, for the results I had to go back to the consultant who again charged me €40 for 10 mins. Not bad €80 (Lm34.34) for 20 mins. is it, when considering as well that all he did at hospital was pump out some blood as the rest was done by other staff. By the way, you one has to ask for a receipt as well, which I had to do. Can you imagine how many don't bother to ask for it.

unfortunatelly doctors are often faced by aggressive patients. patients often attend health centres with an atitude that they won't be served well if they don't show arrogance! i have been working inhealth centres for only 2 years and don't know how things were in the past! however patients should remember that there are doctors who want to give them a good service and really take care of the patients whoevere they are! No act of violence whatever it is is justified neither from patients nor from doctors! Respects towards everyone is all that is required.

Some of the comments are getting away from the point of the article which was about a person being attacked for doing his job, no matter his manner etc, no-one has the right to assault anyone. I work in a GP's surgery in the UK, we actually have a violent patient scheme and these people are only seen at a police station.

As an aside, I had an accident in a lift in Qawra, resulting in a fractured femur and pelvis. The Maltese doctor who attended me later testified that I fell over my suitcase.......So I am not sure about the honesty and integrity of this particular doctor.

Certain doctor's earnings are fabulous others seem earning hardly enough per single patient who is charged a pittance and even free. Doctors have a conscience but very often are conscious of what they aim to earn. .There must be a difference between a routine visit and an urgent or special visit. Routine visits ought not to be charged a normal fee but only a nominal fee, unless of course the visit becomes not just a routine visit.

I am getting rather confused.

Was this attack against the doctor provoked because he did not issue a fiscal receipt? If not (as any sensible person would know) what relevance has it to this incident?
Arrogance is a human trait particular to no specific status, trade or profession. But is there any shred of evidence that it played a role in this incident?
If not, or we do not know, why raise the issue at all?
Assuming that it did, did it justify the use of violence?

What the report implies is that the conditions at the Paola clinic are far from ideal. If this is the cause (not the justification) of the incident, the authorities should address themselves to this issue without any delay.

The whole polyclinic setup is flawed.

Although there are genuine cases, a significant proportion of the work, I understand, is blood pressure checking, certificate fillling and other menial tasks for which the patient could not be asked to go and see ( and pay) his/her usual family doctor.

I am surprised that the goverment still finds enough doctors to do the job given the low level of job satisfaction and the miserable pay it probably offers.

@ e.bartolo: "...such doctors deserve it."
Are you justifying violence?

Is this being blown out of proportion by the MAM or is it really a serious problem?

I find it hard to believe that Doctors or Nurses are in danger of being attacked in the course of their work in the health centers. Are they really liable to attack more than any other customer facing profession? Is it an actual problem?

If it is the fact that these cases are common, it is not security that should be addressed but the underlying root of the problem. If in a civilized country there is a risk of a worker, doctor, nurse, teacher or even street sweeper, there must be underlying problems.

However I find this hard to accept in Malta. To convince me I would need to see the cold hard facts, not sporadic instances.

Doctors and dentists do not give a fiscal receipt but are bound by law to give a reciept. It is also an ethical issue.

@ E.Bartolo

What is your problem???

Instead of employing more security, which is expensive to the country, such attitude should be punished harshly. No parent or patient would dare touch a teacher or doctor as long as he knows that his impulsive behaviour will cost him, say, a 6000 Eur starting, no pity. This should also apply to client-oriented jobs, of whichever profession, will cost society less, is just, and simple.

Leaner sentences in everything are not deterring such things. And I am afraid such bad signals of permisiveness may already be given as from school.

On the other hand no arrogant behaviour should go unchecked. There are ways to deal with this attitude, even on site, which does not involve any violence. And there should be reporting mechanisms, naming and shaming, to respective unions.

We read many letters of complaints about the service at Health Centres, the unavailability of certain pills, the hours of waiting at the Emergency Ward, the waiting lists for operations at Mater Dei, etc. We have even read a sharp comment on the matter by the Hon. Minister John Dalli. And yet, I still have to read a note from the Medical and Health Department informing us of the measures being taken to remedy these situation. The buck stops with the complaints. Are people expected to feel and get better just because they have complained?

We are lucky we still have doctors' home visits and also able to ask advice by phone. I am more afraid of motor mechanics' bills than Doctors' .

Another comment before the masses go into a frenzy and start lynching doctors for not issuing fiscal receipts. Doctors were actually made to de-register with the VAT department by the VAT department itself. Medical services were free of VAT and this elite group of workers that everyone thinks gets preferential treatment for some reason were denied VAT refunds on their expenses. Everyone else gets VAT refunded on expenses, doctors no. Why? Anyway, being exempt from VAT and not being able to deduct VAT as an expense the doctors were made to de-register. IE NO FISCAL RECEIPTS are even available any more to doctors.

So, if a teacher gets poked in the eye by a five year old all hell breaks loose and the five year old treated like a troubled citizen, nearly criminalised. A doctor gets attacked by patient all hell breaks loose and doctors are treated like arrogant citizens who deserve it! I'm speechless

To M.Borg and e. bartolo
M Borg - the place to report doctors is the Medical Council. The place to report the nurse, I would imagine, is Mater Dei.

e.bartolo
Doctors come from all walks of life and all strata of society - dunno where you got the idea that they inhabit some superior echelon, or even that they think they do! Also with all due respect you can vote with your feet. If, according to you, a doctor is disrespecting you, stop going to that doctor. However tarring the entire profession with the same brush is ridiculous, as does your implied approval of people attacking doctors.

@ J Smith
Doctors are not obliged by law to give fiscal receipts.

Firstly i would like to condemn such attacks! But its true, some doctors (NOT all doctors) feel that they are in a class of their own. They prefer that the patient (or the carer of the patient) is someone who just sit down and listen, and let them do whatever they want, rather than ask questions (WHICH IS A PATIENT'S RIGHT) about what's going on! And unfortunately this is the attitude of some nurses as well! When a carer/patient asks a question, some nurses just tell you to wait till your consultant comes over and to discuss any questions with your consultant.

If MAM could tell us where should we report such arrogance behaviour by doctors, i will be the first one to lodge a report against a Senior Doctor at Mater Dei, who was so arrogant with me (when i was seeking advice regarding my child's illness) and this because of a personal problem this doctor had with the specialist taking care of my child. Furthermore i would lodge another report against a 'specialised' nurse for other reasons, which obviously am not disclosing here, but if MAM would like, i will be able to give further information.

Quote: Claudine Cassar
"Mr Bartolo, you obviously seem to have some form of personal grudge against the medical profession"

I am criticising those who abuse their patients. If you do some research you will invariably encounter instances, where a Doctor employs emotional abuse to demonstrate his/her intellectual and social class superiority. This is unacceptable and that is my point. MAM should stop being short sighted, and ascertain that, its members respect their profession before respecting their pocket!

Mr Bartolo, you obviously seem to have some form of personal grudge against the medical profession - I have no idea where you got the idea that doctors go around ridiculing patients. I have been to many doctors and I have never felt ridiculed or demeaned in any manner. Be it GPs, gynaecologists , the lot.... some of them perhaps did not explain as much as I liked, but they definitely did not insult me or ridicule me.

My recommendation is that if you have ever been 'emotionally abused' by a doctor, you report the doctor in question to the Medical Council. I am sorry but I must reiterate, physical violence is never justified and can never be condoned.

Maybe they should change the way they operate there. At the moment if you are sick and need a certificate for work you have to do so between 08.00 and 11.00 which makes it a very crowded place between these hours. If you come any other time it is actually very relaxed and nearly empty.

Since there is a doctor on duty anyhow I don't see why they can't issue certificates in the afternoon as well. Doesn't really make sense - you have already a splitting head age, fever, nausea etc. and then you have to queue up with hundreds of other people to get your certificate.

It might be easier for the doctors so they can take it easy in the afternoon but it is definitely not customer friendly at all.

Obviously that doesn't give you the right to attack the medical staff but a better service would definitely be no mistake.

Quote: Claudine Cassar
"whatever the circumstances"

Are you kidding?! Doctors have no innate right to look down upon their clients to the extent of making fun of them. And besides your reasons, abusing the patient emotionally, could also have been the cause of the attack. So, try to see every side of the coin!

@ Edwin Formosa .... vera dnub .......That is why i cannot blame DOCTORS for not declaring everything.....simply put........because they can get away with it. If we Maltese set the stage then its obvious that the Doctors will play ...simple. AGAIN....this is why i blame ....the maltese in general and to a certain extent the gov'nt for not enforcing fiscal investigations like he carries out in other industries...mostly retail. I personally used to get the odd look from the Doctors .... asking me if i need the fiscal receipt this for insurance purposes.... :) ...but they know by now......and just hand me out my receipt !!!

I find it rather amusing how some people somehow jumped to the conclusion that the attack was instigated by the doctor's arrogance.... seems to me that nothing in the article even remotely suggests anything of the sort.

The attack could have resulted because of a multitude of reasons. The patient was irritated by the queue (which is not the doctor's fault) OR the patient was irritated that the doctor refused to sign a sick leave certificate for a bogus illness (also not the doctor's fault) OR the patient was in a bad mood, full stop.

At the end of the day this has nothing to do with respect for the medical profession in particular, or whether they have a first degree or a second one. EVERY human being has the right to work in a safe environment. Nobody should be expected to work in fear. So yes, MAM is right to ask for added security. Nobody should be attacked at work, whatever the circumstances.

All doctors should learn to respect everybody without exception. Their profession does not entitle them to ridicule their clients whatever the social stratum they come from.

Instigating hatred towards other social strata does not help. However, pointing at problems and the perpetrators, is one of the benefits of freedom of speech.

Prosit J.Smith !!! Dnub m'intix Tabib!!

Some comments are just class hatred instigations which does not make sense now that all levels of education are unequivocally available to all through stipends.

Ohh.....please! Stop blaming the Doctors for their power...'elite' or whatever you are calling it! if their is anyone to blame for this....its us the Maltese in general. I still have to meet someone who asks for a receipt every single time he/she goes to visit a doctor privately. Their is a big 'taboo' in Malta not to offend the DOCTOR, by discomforting the DOCTOR when we ask him to declare his income by requesting a FISCAL RECEIPT.....especially because most other DOCTORS do the same! If we all start requesting 'receipts'.......YES you heard me well ' A FISCAL receipt' .... then we will start seeing progress in Malta's public health and services....including our national fiscal coffers! there.....Want my solution?....a doctor is caught receiving private clients without issuing a receipt... then he will only be allowed to practice his work in the pubic sector for a period of 12 months...and if he is then also caught practicing privately, he is charged Euro20,000 for every proven breach. Problem Solved!

In my experience seeing doctors both privately and at health clinics , I have always found them to be polite , helpful and conscientious. If you have an arrogant manner you will be met like for like! perhaps some of the people on here attacking doctors ought to refer to that age old saying from the bible ' let they who are without sin cast the first stone' THERE IS NEVER AN EXCUSE FOR AGGRESSION AND WE SHOULD NOT TOLERATE IT IN ANY FORM .For a catholic country I never cease to be shocked by the unchristian remarks on this site.
And yes despite my surname I am Maltese and have a right to say what I want on here!

Quote: Nick Galea
"e.bartolo: I am not a doctor nor work in the medical field, however it is clear that doctors need to be respected.They are the profession the world and this country needs the most (since it is amazing what they do for us), and it is no wonder that most of them are leaving our shores when working long hours, under paid and attacked."

Respected?! Every human being has the right to be respected not just Doctors. They have a first degree and pretend to have a PHD!!! There is no place for elitism in the 21st century. They have to adapt to it. Some Doctors consider it acceptable to ridicule their clients... this is unacceptable by today's standards. It is not extraordinary to be attacked, if you look down on your patients to the extent of making fun of them! Social elitism has no place in modern society, Doctor or not! Everyone must be respected! You cannot argue against that.

The Paolo health clinic is a very hectic place but the system needs to be changed. Patients should be seen according to a ticketing system procedure rather than asking the notorious question 'Who is the last person'??? once you barge in the waiting room. So of course patients are going to get frustrated with a system which is not fit for purpose. We also need to make sure that only those who are entitiled to use the Paola health clinic are allowed to use it, hence providing your ID card.

Let me see what you (the ones that are applauding the attack) would do if all the MD's decided to go for better pastures abroad!!

Physical attacks are physical attacks and should be condemned without any reservations!

Gheziez Tobba Maltin injoraw din l-orkestrazzjoni partiggjana.

This article reminded me of of an article on the same website last week were a teacher in b'kara primary school was attacked by a student. It seems that there is no more respect for these dedicated professional people that do there best to provide a service to the maltese people. These people should be protected and help provided to them. So far no one metioned what happened and what help is given to that teacher who is in danger of loosing her eye sight.

I think that certain comments are being too unfair on doctors. Let's keep in mind the enormous pressure that they have. To say that Maltese doctors are often too rude is a very generalised statement in my opinion. If patients are experiencing instances of unacceptable attitudes from certian doctors, they should speak out and report immediately so that action will be taken. I think MAM should also investigate such allegations.

Maltese doctors are too often rude, arrogant and take umbrage if you ask too many questions. If they are in polyclinics, they are especially arrogant and if they deem that you are in a higher income bracket because of your manner and appearance they make you feel that you shouldn't be there at all but paying privately. In the state hospital, beware! If the 'professor' never turns up, then take that to mean that either you or the close relative you are tending to has been written off and will be dead in a few days. And let us not even go down the road of tax returns. It is only in the last few years that, prodded by the Tax Compliance Unit, many doctors have started declaring incomes that are least a bit closer to the real level of their earnings.

e.bartolo: I am not a doctor nor work in the medical field, however it is clear that doctors need to be respected.They are the profession the world and this country needs the most (since it is amazing what they do for us), and it is no wonder that most of them are leaving our shores when working long hours, under paid and attacked.

I think that there should be security where patients are being robbed in broad daylight, by some (surely not all) members of MAM.

From my own experience...I agree with E.Bartolo.....many rude doctors in our health centres.....
Finally...they are being paid from our taxes and I cant see the reason why we shouldnt be treated in the normal gp - client relation.

And what about the nurses involved? No security needed in THEIR case?

"It would be a great pity if the service would be conditioned by a handful of undisciplined clients,"

There are also some rude and arrogant Doctors, who ridicule their clients, pretending their clients to visit them privately!