Brutal 7 times Stabbing of Chennai Doctor Highlights India’s Growing Doctor Safety Crisis
A 53 year old doctor was stabbed seven times in the Kalaignar Centenary Hospital in Guindy, Chennai by the son of a cancer patient while having a conversation regarding his mother’s treatment.
Son of a cancer patient stabbed 7 times, a doctor who was on duty at the Kalaignar Centenary Multispeciality Government Hospital in Chennai. Dr. Balaji Jagannathan was recognized as the victim. Due to severe stab wounds, the doctor was brought to the intensive care unit of the hospital. The person who stabbed the doctor has been taken into custody in relation to the event. The guys found walking calmly after stabbing the doctor and the video is surfacing on the internet. The incident sparked protests from a number of the government hospitals and doctors.
After the crime, the man in the white shirt can be seen on the video carefully taking out a knife, cleaning it and then covering it to his right. After that he throws the weapon and walks away peacefully.
Another doctor was reportedly attacked in a Tamil Nadu government hospital hours after this incident. Dr. Hariharan, an assistant professor in the psychology department of the government-run Stanley Medical College was identified as the victim. For the past month, Bharat has been receiving treatment at the hospital before attacking Dr Hariharan. Authorities at the hospital filed a complaint which led to his arrest.
Protest broke out in Tamil Nadu:
Doctors and nurses gathered in front of the hospital entrance to express their displeasure over the incident. Following the 26-year-old man’s knife attack on a doctor today, medical staff at the Kalaignar Centenary Multy Specialty Government Hospital (KCSSH) staged a protest.
“We do not have safety while doing our duty,” a protesting doctor of the KCSSH hospital said.
Following these two attacks on the same day, rallies were staged around the state by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to denounce the atrocities. At a protest march in Coimbatore, the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association demanded that the government ensure their safety while they perform their duties.
Non-emergency services have been stopped and hospital doctors are outraged.
Dr Anto Uresh, a member of the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association said, “Doctors feel insecure. The attack was a security lapse and indicates lack of fear of the law. Security should be tightened. CCTCs have been set up but I don’t think they function.”
Some major Incidents in last months:
August 24, Patient Slams woman doctor’s head on the bedpost in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
August 26, Resident doctor slapped and abused in Delhi.
September 12, Doctor assaulted by men with patient in Sihor, Gujarat.
September 12, Patient’s relative attacked a woman doctor in Hyderabad.
September 13, Paediatrician attacked by a kin of infant.
September 15, Pregnant doctor brutally assaulted in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh.
October 4, Teenager killed a doctor inside a hospital in Delhi.
Also Read | Tamil Nadu CM Orders Investigation After Doctor Stabbed in Chennai Hospital
Rising Concerns over doctors safety in India:
Ma Subramanian, the health minister for Tamil Nadu met with members of the medical association and other relevant officials to discuss the problem of doctor safety.
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M K Stalin declared that every effort would be made by the government to ensure that similar incidents would not occur again.
In the wake of the event, the Public Health Department instructed district officials to improve security and provide a safer working environment for doctors and other healthcare professionals at government medical institutions and other healthcare facilities. Additionally, orders were given to move quickly and take fast action.
IMA survey shows that the attacks on doctors are increasing and more than 75% of doctors have experienced workplace violence with half of those occurrences taking place in the intensive care unit. Approximately 70% of nighttime events are caused by patient’s relatives and shows that the government hospitals are inadequately secured. The study also shows that Physicians frequently have to defend themselves as well.
Following the rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, the problem of healthcare professional’s safety at work gained national attention and the Chennai attack brings it back into the forefront.
