College of Physicians, following the attack on the ambulance in Cluj: "Zero tolerance" for violence

The College of Physicians of Romania has issued a public response following an attack on an ambulance crew in Cluj County, an incident triggered by false information spread on TikTok. The institution has warned of the risks that misinformation can pose and is calling for firm measures against violence towards medical staff.

In a statement issued on Sunday, officials from the College of Physicians highlighted the dangerous path from falsehood to violence: "This is where misinformation, a failure to verify information, and — why not say it — a lack of education and understanding can lead. From a rumour and a lie/misinformation, to violence."

The organisation believes that health education must also encompass the ability to verify sources and distinguish truth from manipulation. "We must learn to check the source of information, to distinguish accurate medical information from manipulation, lies, and fake news, and not to share a message simply because it may provoke fear, outrage, or a strong emotional reaction. In healthcare, as in society at large, fake news is not harmless," the statement reads.

According to specialists cited by the College of Physicians, misinformation can delay a diagnosis, lead to the refusal of treatment, undermine trust in doctors, generate panic and violence, and, in extreme cases, endanger lives.

The Executive Bureau of the College of Physicians has firmly condemned all forms of violence against medical personnel and has urged people to verify the source and accuracy of information before making health-related decisions or sharing content online.

The institution delivered a clear message about the role of an ambulance: "Not fear. Not conspiracy. Not a target." It further stressed that health education must now also incorporate education against misinformation.

The President of the College of Physicians of Romania, Prof. Dr. Cătălina Poiană, stated: "It is completely unacceptable that people who set out on a mission to save lives should themselves become victims of violence. The incident in Cluj County is also a warning signal about the danger that misinformation in healthcare can generate. A false piece of information, shared and amplified online, can fuel fear, distrust, and, in extreme situations, violent behaviour. We need zero tolerance for violence directed at medical personnel, and we need health education — which today must also mean education about health information."

What happened in Cluj

The incident took place in the commune of Recea-Cristur, Cluj County, where doctors who had been called to attend to a patient were attacked with clubs, axes, and stones. The attack was triggered by a rumour circulating on TikTok claiming that there was an "ambulance stealing children." The ambulance driver sustained an eye injury from shards of the smashed window and underwent surgery.

The Ministry of Health strongly condemned the attack on the crew of the Cluj County Ambulance Service, describing it as outrageous and provoked by absurd misinformation spread on social media. The Ministry called on the relevant authorities to act with the utmost firmness.

Police identified several individuals involved in the attack. To date, three young men — aged 18, 22, and 24, all from the commune of Recea-Cristur — have been detained for 24 hours.