Healthcare workers in Italy face violence and online defamation

Healthcare professionals in Italy are facing increased hostility through both physical violence and digital defamation.

In Catania, the Uil Fp union has condemned a serious incident of violence that occurred in the intensive care unit of the Cannizzaro Hospital. Union representatives called for urgent security reinforcements within hospital structures and a greater presence of law enforcement to protect medical staff from physical and verbal attacks.

In Salerno, the Nursind union has filed a formal defamation complaint following derogatory posts on Facebook. The social media content accused night-shift nurses of sleeping on duty rather than providing patient care. The union is seeking to identify the profile owner and has requested the seizure of digital data to address what they describe as aggravated defamation via telecommunications.