The Majilis (lower house) of the Parliament of Kazakhstan has adopted a law that provides for the introduction of penalties in the form of imprisonment for up to 12 years for the use of violence against medical workers and ambulance drivers, after several high-profile cases. The decision was made by the deputies at the plenary session on Wednesday.

The law introduces a new article into the Criminal Code, which stipulates that the use of violence against health workers in the presence of aggravating circumstances is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 7 to 12 years, without aggravating circumstances - from 5 to 10 years. In addition, violence that is not dangerous to the life and health of doctors will be punishable by a fine of up to $ 7,6 thousand, or community service for up to 600 hours, or imprisonment for up to 3 years.

They will also be punished for threats of violence against doctors, and the maximum term of imprisonment for such a crime is up to three years.

The law was adopted after several high-profile cases of attacks on medical workers, for example, in Kostanay regional hospital, a patient beat a surgeon, who ended up in intensive care in serious condition. After that, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered tougher penalties for such crimes, and in July, Minister of Health Akmaral Alnazarova appealed to citizens to stop the attacks and reported that security had been tightened in hospitals because of this. tass.ru.