Doctor stabbed by patient’s attendant at Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital in Chennai

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Health Minister Ma. Subramanian address the media at Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital (KCSSH) in Guindy, where a doctor was stabbed by a patient’s family member, on Wednesday morning
| Photo Credit: M. Srinath

A doctor was stabbed in the neck allegedly by a patient’s family member at Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital (KCSSH) in Guindy, Chennai, on Wednesday (November 13, 2024) morning. The police said the suspect has been apprehended and taken to the Guindy Police Station, and four others have been detained for inquiry.

The doctor who was attacked has been identified as Dr. Balaji Jagannath. He has been admitted in the ICU, and his condition is said to be critical.

Dr. Balaji Jagannath, who was attacked while on duty on Wednesday morning 
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

According to the police, the suspect, identified as Vignesh of Perungalathur, got an outpatient patient entry pass and entered the Department of Oncology where Dr. Jagannath was on duty at around 10:30 a.m. The suspect was accompanied by a few others, sources said.

They reportedly got into a heated argument with the doctor over the treatment given to Vignesh’s mother Prema, who is suffering from cancer. They held the doctor responsible for her critical condition.

Police personnel outside Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital 
| Photo Credit:
M. Srinath

Police personnel at Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital 
| Photo Credit:
M. Srinath

Vignesh, in a fit of rage, allegedly whipped out a knife and slashed the doctor’s neck. Onlookers immediately came to his rescue and rushed him to the ICU.

Following the incident, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Health Minister Ma. Subramanian visited the hospital. 

‘Doctor a cardiac patient’

L. Parthasarathy, director of KCSSH, told reporters that the injured doctor, an associate professor of Medical Oncology, was attacked inside his outpatient department room. He sustained injuries in seven places including on his neck, behind the ear, forehead, back, and head. “There was a lot of blood loss. He is already a cardiac patient and had undergone surgery. As he is on an anticoagulant, there was excessive bleeding,” Mr. Parthasarathy said.

“We immediately rushed him to the operation theatre and a team of surgeons from Cardiothoracic, Vascular and Neuro Surgery departments resuscitated and operated on him. He is haemodynamically stable,” he added.

CM orders inquiry

In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin termed the incident “shocking” and said that the suspect was “immediately arrested.”

“I have ordered to give necessary treatment to the doctor and to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident,” the CM said.

“The selfless work of our government doctors is immeasurable… It is our duty to ensure their safety during this work,” he further said, adding that the State government would take measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

Doctors’ associations condemn attack

The Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association (SDPGA) condemned the brutal assault on the oncologist and demanded that the government punish the culprits. The SDPGA has decided to stage a flash strike to stop all services, except emergencies, at KCSSH.

The Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association demanded that those involved in the attack be booked under provisions of The Tamil Nadu Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2008.