Top court steps up to end attacks on doctors

Severe punishments to be dealt for violent medical disputes to curb 'abnormal trend'

As China targets a growing trend of medical disputes, some of which involve serious violence against physicians, a new initiative was launched on Thursday to emphasize that such attacks on doctors will bring severe punishment.

Five agencies, including the Supreme People's Court, the Ministry of Public Security and the National Health and Family Planning Commission, jointly issued the notice that aims to bring stronger punishment for violent crimes involving medical disputes and maintain the order of medical practice.