(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 13 - A 16-year-old boy punched a nurse in Reggio Emilia Sunday amid a wave of assaults on medical staff in Italy, the hospital said Wednesday.
    On Tuesday a Calabrian ER chief was attacked with a cosh by a patient's relative irked at her being discharged rather than admitted.
    The minor punched the nurse in the face in the emergency room in the Emilian city and was cited on charges of causing harm to medical personnel.
    The hospital said Wednesday that the youth showed up at the ER "in a state of obvious agitation and psychophysical alteration, probably due to the use of drugs".
    While waiting, the medical personnel approached him to calm him down, but he reacted violently, attacking the nurse.
    At that point the Carabinieri were called and intervened on the scene with a patrol: once identified, the military quizzed witness in order to reconstruct the incident.
    Finally, a complaint was filed with the prosecutor of the juvenile court of Bologna.
    The injured nurse had to seek medical attention and was discharged with a three-day prognosis. (ANSA).