The National Medical Service of Great Britain introduces new rules by which doctors can refuse to serve patients who tolerate racist, sexist, homophobic and other similar insults - if this is not an emergency that threatens the patient’s life, Radio Liberty reports.

According to current rules, doctors can refuse to treat a patient if he attacks them physically or shows verbal aggression. The new rules, which will be enforced in April, will also apply to discriminatory statements..

Minister of Health Matt Hancock explained the new measures by saying that doctors and medical staff should not be abused and discriminated against in their workplace. According to statistics, more than a quarter of the staff of the National Medical Service were attacked by patients over the past year..