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The urge to kill

Healthcare Security Weekly, June 16, 2008

A study has found that one in 20 patients have had the urge to kill their physician.

The survey, compiled by researchers from the University of Miami, questioned 800 Americans who were in pain, undergoing physical rehabilitation, or seeking legal compensation for disability to determine their attitude towards their general practitioner. Researchers found that just over one in 20, or 5%, of those surveyed admitted feeling like they wanted to murder their physician, reported the May 21 edition of the New Scientist magazine.

Distrust of physicians was often the cause of the problem, according to study author David Fishbain, MD. However, understanding who was likely to have a wish to harm medical staff and why could help reduce attacks, the study said.

While few physicians are actually killed by patients, thousands are attacked and injured. Involvement in a disability compensation case is, for example, a predictor of a negative attitude, because patients often become angry if they feel their physician will not support their compensation claim, Fishbain said.

The survey results were presented at the American Pain Society meeting in Tampa, FL, last month.

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