More than nine in ten (91%) emergency physician respondents report being threatened or attacked in the past year, according to a 2024 ACEP poll of its members. In fact, nearly three-quarters (71%) of respondents believe that violence in the emergency department is worse than last year. As part of the polling, ACEP gathered more than 800 troubling stories directly from emergency physicians.

These firsthand accounts reveal that emergency physicians and their teams are regularly assaulted. Most have been punched, kicked, or spat on. Many have had heavy or sharp medical equipment thrown at them. Some have been threatened with weapons ranging from guns and knives to hatchets or machetes.

Resources:

• Press Release: When Emergency Physicians Regularly Fear Violence at Work, It’s Past Time for Change (April 16, 2024)
• Poll:  ED Violence: Dangerous, Rising and Unacceptable
• Member Stories:  ED Violence: Dangerous, Rising and Unacceptable