Trouble-makers grab attention in medical conflicts

A 10-YEAR-OLD PUPIL was stabbed in a bus in Central China's Hunan province on Monday. The suspect had been stalking the boy as he had a grudge against the boy's father who is a doctor. Beijing Times commented on Wednesday:

Because of discontentment or a misunderstanding that arose during the course of his medical treatment, the suspect decided to use violence to settle the dispute with his doctor. This was a particularly heinous action as he targeted the doctor's child. Although this is an extreme case, it shows the divide between doctors and patients.

But doctors and patients actually share the same interest, which is curing illness. The violence triggered by the conflicts between the doctors and patients have been magnified. We should not only be responsive to the relevant cases but also proactively take some protective measures.