Daylight assault on doctor at government hospital leaves medical fraternity in shock

Daylight assault on doctor at government hospital leaves medical fraternity in shock

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Health Minister Ma. Subramanian addressing the media at Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital, where a doctor was stabbed on Wednesday. M. SRINATH

Vignesh stabs the oncologist on the neck, head and face, upset that his mother was not properly treated for Hodgkin lymphoma. He was arrested by the Guindy police. CM Stalin orders a thorough inquiry. The doctor is in the Intensive Care Unit, and his condition is stable, says the Health Minister

The Hindu Bureau   CHENNAI 14.11.2024 

Wednesday’s brutal assault on a senior medical oncologist at a government hospital left the medical fraternity in Tamil Nadu in shock. Balaji Jegannathan, associate professor, medical oncology, Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital (KCSSH), Guindy, was attacked by the son of a patient in his outpatient department room.

The attacker, identified as Vignesh, was reportedly frustrated over the treatment given to his mother, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in an advanced stage. KCSSH director L. Parthasarathy told reporters that the woman had come for treatment when the disease was in an advanced stage, having spread to other parts of her body. “The doctor had informed them that her lungs were affected. The family decided to take her home, and this was the attendant’s (Vignesh’s) version too,” he said.

Police said Vignesh had taken his mother to a private hospital at Virugambakkam, where a doctor reportedly told him that she had not been given proper treatment. He then met Dr. Balaji at KCSSH and told him that his mother was suffering because of “improper treatment”. The doctor reportedly scolded him and sent him out. The woman was later taken to a private medical college hospital at Poonamallee, where doctors said she could not be treated as the disease was in an advanced stage. She had severe pain, and was unable to sleep.

Easy entry

With the intention of harming Dr. Balaji, Vignesh boarded a suburban train at Perungalathur and reached KCSSH at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday. He had an easy entry since he had visited the hospital frequently as a patient attendant. He went to Dr. Balaji’s department and waited outside his room, requesting to be let in. Once inside, he had a quarrel with the doctor, holding him responsible for his mother’s suffering. The doctor reportedly pushed him and, in retaliation, the youth stabbed the doctor on the neck, head and face with a knife. Before the other staff members and patients realised what had happened, Vignesh walked out and reached the main entrance, where he was nabbed by the staff. He was pinned down and thrashed before being handed over to the police. Vignesh was arrested by the Guindy police and taken to a court for remand in the evening.

He was booked under Sections 127 (2) (Wrongful confinement), 115 (2) (Voluntarily causing hurt), 118 (1) (Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons), 121 (2) (Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 109 (Attempt to murder), and 351 (3) (Criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and under the Tamil Nadu Medicare Services Persons and Medicare Services Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2008.

Side effect

Sources said the patient was discharged against medical advice after being admitted to a private medical college hospital two days ago. She was receiving a chemotherapy drug that could have the side effect of interstitial lung disease that shrinks the lung. But the patient’s attendant was counselled about the side effect before the chemotherapy began.

Health Minister Ma. Subramanian said the doctor was in the Intensive Care Unit, and his condition was stable. He spoke to the doctor on a video call in the evening. Commissioner of Police A. Arun visited the hospital and held a preliminary inquiry.

CM’s assurance

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said his government would take steps to ensure that such incidents did not recur. Expressing shock over the incident, Mr. Stalin, in a social media post, said the person who had committed the offence had been arrested, and Dr. Balaji was being given medical treatment. Mr. Stalin said he had ordered a thorough investigation and all possible medical support to the doctor.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that the attack had exposed the poor law and order situation in the State. Former Ministers D. Jayakumar and C. Vijayabaskar visited the doctor.

ADMK Workers’ Rights Retrieval Committee coordinator O. Panneerselvam said the attack could have been prevented, had there been proper security at the hospital.

AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran called for steps to create adequate infrastructure at government hospitals.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss, and DMDK leader Premallatha Vijayakant also condemned the attack.

Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan said the attack spotlighted the plight of government hospitals under the DMK government. “The government is focusing only on advertisements. The lives of doctors, farmers, and government employees are under threat in Tamil Nadu. These incidents expose the fake Dravida model government,” he said.

Former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan said the incident showed that there was no safety for doctors at government hospitals.

Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) president G.K. Vasan demanded a detailed probe.

Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president Vijay said, “The number of crimes taking place in Tamil Nadu, that too in broad daylight, shows the breakdown of law and order. The attack on the oncologist is shocking, and it took place owing to the negligence of the government.”

“The attack on Dr. Balaji Jagannathan is shocking and highly condemnable. Any form of violence against doctors and medical fraternity is absolutely unacceptable,” the Raj Bhavan said in a social media post quoting Governor R.N. Ravi.