Parliament tightens regulations: more protection for rescuers, doctors and aid workers

The changes proposed in the amendments to these laws are intended to provide more effective protection against violence for public officials, paramedics and citizens providing assistance. - This is an attempt to provide a comprehensive response to the phenomena that are appalling to the entire public. (...) We must do everything so that in the place of providing aid and saving human lives, no one wastes time fighting with troublemakers," said Deputy Justice Minister Arkadiusz Myrcha, presenting the project. - We must take all measures that protect people in and out of uniform who risk their own lives, health and property, acting out of a sense of goodness, he added.

The draft was supported by all clubs, although Law and Justice and the Confederation - with comments. - In recent years, attacks and cases of aggression against police officers, municipal guards, firefighters, doctors, but also nurses or paramedics have increased," said Jolanta Niezgodzka (KO). - The changes included in this draft are a clear signal that the state's priority is to protect people who are vulnerable to aggression in connection with their function, she said. - If we don't do this, we will reinforce attitudes of indifference to perceived violations of the law, but we will also weaken the important basis of civil society, which is the sense of responsibility of individual citizens and for the common good, for the welfare of others. Witold Tumanowicz (Confederation) noted that his club supports the direction of strengthening the state's harsh response to aggression against medics and officers. - They perform an extremely responsible task, and we must protect them by law, as they save our health and lives, he said.

Few MPs came forward to ask questions. Those that were asked included whether, in addition to stricter penalties, the government envisages other measures - even educational ones - that can realistically improve the safety of health care workers, doctors, nurses, paramedics. It was the attacks on representatives of this professional group, ending with the death of a paramedic (January, Siedlce) and a doctor (April, Krakow), that became the direct reason for the work on changes in the law. It was also asked whether the legislation could cover social workers, who also often face aggression in their work.

The government draft provides for harsher penalties for violence against interveners and greater protection against verbal aggression: an attack on a police officer, firefighter, paramedic or a person who rescues others (e.g., stops an attacker, breaks up a fight, rescues in a fire) will be punishable by 3 months to 5 years in prison. The same protection as public officials will also be extended to citizens who intervene; previously, the penalty for violating an officer's integrity was up to 3 years, and up to 2 years in prison for a citizen rescuing others.

On the other hand, a person who is insulted during an intervention (e.g., challenges, threats) will be able to count on the prosecutor's office to take proceedings ex officio. Aggressive behavior in a public place, such as a hospital or office, will be punishable by arrest, restriction of liberty or a fine of up to PLN 5,000 (minimum PLN 1,000), when today the maximum fine is PLN 500. The same penalty will be threatened for disturbing the peace and public order under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The court, at the request of the aggrieved person, will make the sentence public.