Doctor stabbed multiple times by patient’s son

An oncologist at Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital here was stabbed multiple times on Wednesday by the son of a patient allegedly over grievances regarding the treatment of his mother, a hospital official said.

The man assaulted the doctor inside the outpatient room during a conversation regarding his mother’s treatment. He was immediately apprehended by the hospital staff and handed over to the police.

The assailant has been identified as Vignesh. His mother Kanchana was the patient. The victim, Balaji Jagannathan, is a renowned oncologist and is serving as an associate professor in the medical oncology department in the hospital. He is being treated and is said to be stable.

Police Commissioner A Arun inspected the hospital and reviewed the security arrangements. He said a police outpost would be set up on the premises. The attack led to an outrage among doctors and nurses, who gathered in front of the hospital to mark their protest. “We do not have safety while doing our duty,” a protesting doctor said. The doctors announced to go on a strike even as Health Minister Ma Subramanian is set to hold talks with them. Expressing shock, Chief Minister MK Stalin said the assailant had been arrested and that he had ordered a thorough probe. “All steps will be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future,” the CM said.

AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami said the incident pointed to the poor law and order situation in the state. “There is no security for government doctors in government hospitals,” he said, adding tough action should be taken against the culprit. BJP state unit chief K Annamalai blamed CM Stalin and the DMK regime over the incident.