Shanghai unveils new measures to protect medical staff

Medical workers will soon be able to report suspected contagion cases to the local health authority and won't face legal repercussions even in the event of an error in judgement, according to new measures unveiled by the Shanghai government on Dec 30.

Titled "Measures of Shanghai Municipality on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Medical and Healthcare Workers", these new measures are the first of their kind in the country and will take effect on March 1.

The measures state that doctors and nurses who discover novel cases of diseases that have the potential of infecting others have the right to escalate the situation to the local health department and suggest to the institutions they work in to activate epidemic prevention and control protocols.

The 42-article measures also ban any form of threats to medical workers.

"The measures make it clear that a medical worker whose personal safety is being threatened or violated can suspend his or her work at the relevant area under the condition of not endangering medical safety," said Luo Peixin, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Justice Bureau.

"They should resume work after the threat is removed."