Makassed General Hospital closes emergency room in face of attacks on staff

BEIRUT — The Makassed General Hospital in Beirut announced Friday the closure of its emergency room until further notice to protest against repeated attacks on its medical staff by patients.

Here’s what we know:

   • The decision comes after a new attack took place on Thursday evening, when two of the doctors on duty in the emergency room were "insulted, hit and threatened" by patients, the private establishment said in a statement.

   • The hospital administration said it "understands the psychological pressure" that patients are subjected to due to the multifaceted crisis. It also said its decision comes in solidarity with its nursing staff and demands the "protection of the state in the face of the chaos, security threats and the destruction of its medical equipment.”

   • In recent months, attacks on doctors and acts of vandalism in hospitals have multiplied, as health care costs have increased significantly due to an unprecedented economic crisis that the country is struggling from. At the beginning of December 2021, Parliament approved a strengthening of criminal penalties for attacks against doctors.