01/06/2026
An elderly patient was advised a DTPA renal scan—a standard and safe nuclear medicine investigation used worldwide to assess kidney function. Instead of seeking clarification, a family member called the hospital, abused the treating doctor, and even threatened to shoot him.
Doctors make clinical decisions based on medical science and in the best interests of their patients. Questions and concerns are always welcome, but abuse, intimidation, and threats have no place in healthcare.
Violence against healthcare professionals not only affects doctors and hospital staff but also compromises patient care and creates a culture of fear within the healthcare system.
It is time for society to stand together and say: disagreement is acceptable, questions are acceptable, but threats and violence are not.