Legislative implications for China from the U.S. Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act
10.20001/j.issn.2095-2619.20250616
- VernacularTitle:美国《预防医疗卫生和社会服务劳动者工作场所暴力法案》对中国的立法启示
- Author:
Xuechun WANG
1
;
Min ZHANG
;
Chuning HE
;
Yuting TANG
;
Jing WU
Author Information
1. School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Healthcare industry;
Health care workers;
Workplace violence;
Law;
Legislation;
Occupational health
- From:
China Occupational Medicine
2025;52(3):330-335
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To put forward relevant national legislative proposals for preventing workplace violence (WPV) in the healthcare industry by comparing the current legal practices of China and the United States. Methods The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Act") of the United States was translated and analyzed. The relevant normative legal documents in China were systematically reviewed to compare the legislative differences in the prevention and control of WPV against health care workers. Results The Act aims to establish an employer-driven legal framework for WPV prevention and control. China has no specific legislation for WPV, but has established partial legislation for protecting healthcare workers from external violence through various legal practices. The "Act" regards WPV as an occupational hazard and adopts the priority control order to carry out the prevention and control of WPV. In contrast, China's legislation for WPV approach emphasizes public security and undermines occupational health, treating WPV merely as a work-related injury or accident with limited protection. This gap reveals divergent priorities for legal interests. Conclusion China should integrate WPV prevention and control into the occupational health legal framework through revising existing laws, advancing dedicated legislation, and ratifying relevant international conventions, to strengthen the occupational health legal system. All stakeholders should clarify the responsibilities for WPV prevention and control of healthcare workers, and ensure comprehensive legislative response.
