Caregivers at a clinic in Villeurbanne, a suburb of Lyon, were attacked by the mother and son of a patient who will be tried immediately on Monday, the Rhône prefecture and the public prosecutor's office learned on Saturday.
The incident occurred Thursday evening shortly before 9 p.m. in the emergency room of the Médipôle clinic in Villeurbanne, when a patient's family members attacked caregivers, the prefecture said, confirming information from BFMTV Lyon.
The attackers criticized caregivers for the long waits for their loved one to be treated. Staff members were insulted, threatened, and beaten, according to a source close to the case.
At least three medical workers were injured.
A police patrol present at the scene intervened to subdue the attackers and two people were taken into custody.
The patient's mother and son are due to appear in court on Saturday afternoon for an immediate appearance hearing on Monday, the Lyon prosecutor's office said.
"Not satisfied with the care provided to their loved one," they "attacked three health professionals and three police officers," he added.
The mother is being prosecuted for "violence against a healthcare professional with a temporary incapacity for work of less than or equal to 8 days, insulting a person responsible for a public service mission, and death threats against a healthcare professional."
The son will be tried for "insulting a person in a position of public authority, rebellion, insulting a person charged with a public service mission and death threats against a health professional."
They both face five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros.
Five complaints were filed, three by caregivers and two by police officers, the prefecture said.
On the social network X, Prefect Fabienne Buccio expressed her "total support for the healthcare workers who were victims" and thanked "the police for their rapid intervention which led to the arrest of two people."
The police have increased their patrols at the establishment in addition to the additional private security agents mobilized, she said.
The director of the ARS (Regional Health Agency) will visit caregivers today to offer them state support, according to the prefect.
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