An Act of Unthinkable Brutality: Doctor Stabbed in His Own Clinic
- Victim: Dr. Balaji Jaganathan, a respected medical oncologist at the Kalaignar Centenary Superspeciality Hospital, Guindy.
- Time of Incident: November 13, 2024 around 10:15 AM.
- Assailant: A 26-year-old man, believed to be the son of a former cancer patient treated by Dr. Jaganathan, disguised as a patient to gain access to the doctor.
Update: Carotid Injury, Vascular surgeon and CTVS are proceeding with Neck Exploration.
The Attack: A Chilling Scene of Violence
- Accused & Attack: The patient`s son Vignesh, a Chennai resident, entered the doctor’s office under the pretense of an outpatient visit, then pulled out a kitchen knife, launching a vicious attack. He stabbed doctor 7 times in neck area.
- Injuries: Dr. Jaganathan sustained severe injuries to his neck, scalp, head, and ear. He is currently undergoing emergency surgery, with his condition described as critical. He is very critical due to carotid artery blowout.
- Hospital staff quickly intervened, apprehending the attacker and handing him over to the police. However, the brutal attack has left the medical community in fear and disbelief.
Motive – An Act of Revenge?
- Preliminary police investigations reveal the attacker’s motivation may stem from anger over his mother’s recent cancer treatment, which allegedly led to complications.
- Accompanied by three friends, the attacker sought vengeance, blaming the doctor for what he perceived as negligence.
Immediate Call to Halt Non-Essential Medical Services
- All doctors, paramedical staff, and faculty at Chennai’s medical institutions have been urged to cease non-emergency duties following a horrific attack.
- Outpatient, ward, and teaching services have come to a halt in solidarity with the victim and to protest inadequate protection for healthcare workers.
Condemnation and Calls for Justice
- The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) has condemned this ruthless act, demanding swift and strict punishment for those involved.
- The Service and PG Doctors Association has joined in calling for government intervention to ensure doctors’ safety, urging immediate reforms to protect healthcare workers.
A System in Crisis: Medical Staff Demand Action
- In response to the attack, doctors across Chennai have initiated a flash strike, suspending services except for emergencies.
- Dr. Antan Uresh Kumar, District Secretary of TNGDA, expressed the medical community’s deep distress, declaring, “This isn’t just an attack on an individual, but on every doctor who dedicates their life to saving others. We demand action now, or this could be any one of us tomorrow.”
A Bleak Reality: Healthcare Workers Under Threat
This tragic incident has reignited the conversation around the growing risks healthcare workers face. The threat of violence has become a reality for many doctors, who now question the safety of their work environments.