Violence against public employees: Examination of national and international legislation specifically for healthcare professionals

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the legislation aimed at preventing violence against public employees, especially healthcare workers, in Turkey and in the world, and to compare the existing practices in international experience. For this purpose, in the study, the definitions of the concepts of public employee in general, healthcare worker in particular and violence are discussed in the legislative and theoretical context. Then, the legal liability faced in case of violence against healthcare workers, who are public employees, was discussed. In addition, the responsibilities of the public employer within the scope of administrative law in case of violence against healthcare professionals working in public healthcare institutions and organizations have been examined. Finally, a comparison was made of written sources regarding the legislation and penal sanctions applied in case of violence against healthcare workers, created on the basis of the recommendations of International Institutions in developed and developing countries. As a result of the study, although there are criminal sanctions against violence against public employees, especially healthcare workers, in developed and developing countries, violence cannot be prevented in these countries. It has been determined that the healthcare workers who are most exposed to violence are doctors and nurses, and in countries where there is no political stability and there are wars, violent incidents resulting in death and injury are higher. Based on the results obtained from this study, policy makers should develop capacity increase strategies to strengthen low-level hospitals, which have often been neglected in the past, and implement policies to increase employment in regions where healthcare workers are needed.