Chennai: Government doctor stabbed 7 times by patient's son at Kalaignar Centenary hospital

Chennai doctor stabbed: The incident took place while Dr Balaji Jaganathan was working in the cancer ward, where the accused's mother was admitted.

Updated on: Nov 13, 2024, 15:21:26 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Chennai doctor stabbed: A government doctor was stabbed seven times with a knife by a patient's son at Kalaignar Centenary Hospital in Chennai on Wednesday, police said. The doctor, Dr Balaji Jaganathan, is currently receiving treatment in the ICU to recover from the assault, with injuries to his neck, ear, forehead, back and stomach.

Dr Balaji Jaganathan is currently receiving treatment in the ICU to recover from his injuries (Divya Chandrababu/X)

The police have arrested the accused, Vignesh, a Chennai resident whose mother was admitted to the hospital. He reportedly attacked Dr Balaji because he was angry that his mother was not receiving proper treatment at the hospital, where she had previously undergone chemotherapy.

Also Read: Protest in Rameshwaram over fishermens’ arrest by Sri Lanka, Stalin writes to EAM

The incident occurred while Dr Balaji was working in the cancer ward of the government hospital. Vignesh attempted to flee after the attack but was caught and handed over to the police.

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin responded to the shocking situation and said that he had directed the relevant officials to carry out a detailed enquiry into the incident.

Also Read: Dismay in Kamala Harris’s ancestral village after she loses prez polls

“The selfless work of our government doctors in providing appropriate treatment to patients at government hospitals is immeasurable. It is our duty to ensure their safety. The government will take all measures to prevent such incidents in the future,” he added in a post on X.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu: Engineering, chemistry students run meth lab from home in Chennai, arrested

State health minister Ma Subramanian also promised prompt action in the matter.

BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan condemned the attack in a post on X and stated that the incident showed the “insecure situation of doctors in government hospitals in Tamil Nadu.”

"Doctors treat all patients in a non-discriminatory manner, they may feel pain that the patient's relatives are struggling with the disease, but the situation is such that it attacks the doctors. It's sad that doctors have insecurity... I pray for his full recovery. The Tamil Nadu government should ensure the safety of doctors," she added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.