Emergency doctors raise alarm on escalating crisis

Emergency departments are in crisis with staff facing frequent verbal and physical aggression. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)

Punching, kicking, spitting, biting, verbal abuse and threats - physical violence against emergency doctors is pushing them to "breaking point".  

Experts say the abuse is happening so often, it needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency before highly skilled doctors move away from the workforce.