A recent knife attack on a doctor in Chennai, a city in southern India, has sparked renewed worries regarding the safety of medical professionals across the nation.
Authorities report that Balaji Jaganathan, an oncologist employed at a government hospital, was attacked and stabbed multiple times by an individual allegedly dissatisfied with the medical care provided to his mother.
The doctor is currently in stable condition, while the assailant has been taken into police custody.
A report from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) reveals that over 75% of doctors in India have experienced some form of violence, with 68.33% of these attacks perpetrated by the attendees of patients.
Months after the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor within the confines of her workplace ignited widespread protests, the incident has reignited discussions surrounding the problematic working conditions faced by medical professionals in India.
On Wednesday, an incident occurred involving Mr. Jaganathan, who was providing medical care to the mother of the assailant, a woman recently diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer.
According to reports, the man was observed engaging in a heated argument with the doctor one day prior. The following day, he entered Mr. Jaganathan’s consultation room, locked the door, and allegedly stabbed him seven times with a kitchen knife.
Hospital staff apprehended him as he attempted to leave, leading to his subsequent detention by the police.
In a critical turn of events, Mr. Jaganathan, sustaining injuries to his scalp, head, neck, back, and ear, was swiftly transported for surgical intervention.
Officials have reported that his condition remains stable. “He will be monitored in ICU by a team of doctors,” stated Dr. L Parthasarathy, the hospital’s director, during a press briefing on Wednesday.
The incident has ignited widespread protests throughout Tamil Nadu, the state encompassing Chennai, as various doctors’ unions have issued threats of a total strike of services.
The Indian Medical Association, the largest union representing medical professionals nationwide, has condemned the recent attack and is calling for robust measures to address the rising violence against doctors.
“A thorough revamp of the security environment in hospitals is essential to regain the trust of medical professionals.” “The nation owes this to its doctors,” the statement read.
In response to the incident, opposition parties in Tamil Nadu expressed their concerns, accusing the government of neglecting its duty to uphold law and order within the state.
On Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin visited the hospital, where he pledged to take stringent measures against the individual responsible for the attack.
