A hospital in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, is providing pepper spray to doctors in the outpatient department to prevent violent attacks from patients'families, Jinling Evening News reported.

The doctors were told not to use the pepper spray unless they are under threat.

The China Hospital Association revealed that an attack on a medical worker occurs every two weeks on average, and 27.3 percent of hospital doctors were assaulted in 2012, a rise from 20 percent in 2008.

Lawyers said it is reasonable for hospitals to provide medical staff with pepper spray because doctors have rights for self-defense.?