 "The victim, Dr Balaji Jaganathan is a renowned oncologist who is also serving as associate professor in medical oncology in the government hospital. His condition is stable. Image courtesy: @Indian__doctor")
The stabbing of a doctor in Chennai has reignited the call for a law to protect medical authorities.
An oncologist at the Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital in Chennai’s Guindy was stabbed seven times on Wednesday by the son of a patient.
The assailant was allegedly upset about the treatment his mother received while being under the doctor’s care.
The victim is being treated for his injuries.
The incident occurred a day after the RG Kar hospital rape and murder case began in a Kolkata court.
But what happened? And what are doctors demanding?
Let’s take a closer look:
What happened?
The assailant has been Vignesh, a resident of Chennai.
His mother, Kanchana, was previously admitted to the Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital.
She was being treated by Dr Balaji Jaganathan – a renowned oncologist who is also serving as associate professor in medical oncology in the government hospital.
As per India Today, Kanchana is currently undergoing treatment at a private facility.
Vignesh, claiming that he wanted to talk about his mother, entered the OP Room, an official said.
He then proceeded to stab Dr Balaji repeatedly.
“He closed the OP room and stabbed the doctor in his neck, behind his ear, chest, forehead, on his back, head and stomach. There was a huge blood loss. Already he is a heart patient and he had undergone a surgery for his heart ailment,’ the official, an emergency medicine anesthesiologist, told reporters.
The door could not be opened immediately.
Dr Balaji was brought out with the help of security personnel, staff and others.
Vignesh, 26, has been arrested.
He was apprehended and handed over to the police after attempting to flee, as per Business Today.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsNDTV reported that footage recorded on a cellphone shows Vignesh being attacked by an angry mob.
Firstpost has not independently verified the footage.
The official said that Vignesh claimed that his mother was provided chemotherapy six times in the hospital.
She was later shifted to a private hospital where they said that her lungs were affected.
What exactly transpired between the victim and assailant remains unclear.
Dr Balaji, who had also undergone pacemaker implantation was resuscitated.
He was then immediately operated upon by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons.
The victim bled excessively and his medication for his heart ailment is the likely reason for more blood loss. Two units of blood were transfused and all wounds were sutured.
“We have to wait and see for another six to eight hours for his recovery; the oncologist is under anaesthesia,” the official said. “Balaji sir is a very sincere doctor and as of now he is stable and we pray to God that he will come back to normal condition.”
Stabbing reignites demand for law
The incident reignites the demand for a law to protect doctors and nurses which had been raised in the aftermath of the RG Kar hospital rape and murder case.
The body of a postgraduate trainee doctor being found in the seminar room of the state-run hospital on the morning of August 9 had sparked outrage across the country.
Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, was arrested by the Kolkata Police the next day.
The Calcutta High Court later ordered a CBI investigation into the rape-murder case
As per Indian Express, having a law dedicated to protecting healthcare professions has been a long -ending demand of doctors.
In 2019, the Centre prepared a draft law after a nationwide protest.
However, the Centre claims that 26 states and Union Territories already have laws protecting doctors and that new legislation is unlikely to be a deterrent.
However, the draft bill was ultimately set aside after consultations with the Home Ministry.
“We were informed that it is being rejected because many of the provisions are already in the penal code, there was insufficient stakeholder consultation, and there was a concern over federal structure,” Dr Amrinder Singh Malhi, who was then the head of the resident doctors’ association of AIIMS, and one of the members of the drafting committee, told the newspaper.
What are the doctors demanding?
Doctors at the hospital have condemned the attack and announced a strike.
As per Outlook, non-emergency treatment at the hospital has been suspended.
As per Hindustan Times, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for “a strong legislation, exemplary punishments and proactive safety measures” to protect doctors.
“No amount of superficial damage control exercises by governments is going to make doctors work without fear in this country,” it wrote in a letter.
“Strong deterrent legislation, exemplary punishments and proactive safety measures are required now and here. All governments have been put on notice of this heinous crime. The medical profession of the country is deeply disturbed and is sceptical of the remedial measures for this ever-recurring violence,” it added.
“Only a comprehensive overhaul of the security atmosphere in the hospitals could restore the confidence of doctors. The nation owes this to its doctors,” the letter added.
Dr Anto Uresh, who represents the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association, told NDTV the incident shows that people in Tamil Nadu have no fear of the law.
“Doctors feel insecure. The attack was a security lapse and indicates lack of fear of the law… security should tightened. CCTV cameras have been set up but I don’t think they function,” Uresh said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has condemned the incident.
“It is shocking that Dr Balaji, who is working at the Guindy Kalaignar Centenary Super Specialty Hospital, was stabbed by a family member of a patient. The person involved in this incident was immediately arrested. I have instructed that all necessary medical treatment be given to Dr Balaji and that a detailed enquiry be conducted into the matter,” Stalin said, as per India Today.
“It is our duty to protect those who are dedicated to treating patients,” he added.
Outlook quoted Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin as saying, “He had a conversation with Dr. Balaji for 30 minutes before the incident occurred.”
Udayanidhi said it is possible that a misunderstanding may have occurred in the lead-up to the attack.
“His mother was shifted to a private hospital after treatment at a government hospital for six months… the doctors at the private hospital misled him,” NDTV quoted him as saying. “There was no security lapse as he was a known employee. We can’t frisk everyone who enters the hospital.”
But state BJP Chief K Annamalai slammed the government
“Despite numerous attacks on doctors and hospital staff, the government has failed to take decisive action. This raises serious concerns about public safety,” Annamalai was quoted as saying by India Today.
Actor Vijay also criticised the government.
“Shocked to hear about Dr Balaji from Chennai’s Guindy Hospital being stabbed today. The negligence of the Tamil Nadu government is the reason behind doctors working in government hospitals having no safety. The Tamil Nadu government should take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of doctors,” Vijay wrote on X.
With inputs from agencies