Psychiatrist at Stanley Medical College attacked during check-up, suffers facial injuries

Chennai: Hours after an oncologist was stabbed in a super speciality hospital here, another doctor, a psychiatrist at Government Stanley Medical College in Chennai was allegedly attacked by a mentally challenged patient on Wednesday. 

The alleged attack left the 49-year-old with facial injuries requiring sutures. He received immediate medical attention and is reported to be in stable condition. This is the second attack on a doctor in Chennai in a single day on Wednesday. 

The doctor, an Assistant Professor at the college was assaulted by a mentally unstable patient who had been receiving treatment in the hospital for the past month, IANS reports.

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According to a TOI news report, the doctor was attending to patients in the department's outpatient ward on Wednesday. Suddenly, a disagreement started between the doctor and the accused patient, who allegedly attacked the doctor. 

Witnessing the attack, the staff members and bystanders at the hospital quickly intervened and overpowered the patient. As per the Daily, the patient fled the scene after attacking the doctor. 

As a result, the Stanley Government Hospital's principal, Balaji, filed a complaint at the Washermenpet police station against the accused under relevant sections of BNS. After a thorough investigation, the police arrested the accused. 

Medical Dialogues had recently reported the brutal attack on an oncologist on duty at Kalainagar Centenary Hospital in Chennai, who was stabbed seven times by a patient's son. After receiving several stab wounds in his neck, head, and upper chest, the doctor was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the same hospital in critical condition. However, he is stable and recovering now. 

Violent attacks on doctors come at a time when the medical fraternity across the country is still waiting for justice in the case of rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata in August that had sparked nationwide protests by the medical fraternity.

Junior doctors, accompanied by thousands of common people in West Bengal and other parts of India, conducted many rallies in protest against the ghastly incident and demanded quick justice for the victim and security for doctors on duty. The Supreme Court, which took suo motu cognisance of the issue, is currently monitoring the matter and the CBI investigation.

Also read- Chennai Shocker: Oncologist Stabbed multiple times by Patient's Son, Critical