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A medical oncologist at the Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital here was stabbed atleast seven times on Wednesday by the son of a patient allegedly over grievances regarding the treatment of his mother at the same facility, a hospital official said.
The 26-year old man assaulted the doctor inside the outpatient room during a conversation regarding his mother's treatment.
He was immediately apprehended by the hospital staff and handed over to the police, and he was arrested.
The doctor (53) is being treated, and he is stable, the official said.
A video clip, the authenticity of which could not be verified immediately, showed the assailant throwing away the knife and walking in the hospital corridor towards the exit gate after committing the crime.
The attack led to an outrage and doctors and nurses gathered in front of the hospital entrance to mark their protest.
"We do not have safety while doing our duty," one of the protesting KCSSH doctors said.
Expressing shock, Chief Minister M K Stalin said the assailant had been arrested and assured that all steps will be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
Also, a detailed probe has been ordered.
While deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin promised tough action against the culprit, opposition parties including the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam slammed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime over the incident.
Doctors associations, which had earlier announced a strike, withdrew their call after health minister Ma Subramanian held talks with them for about three hours.
Subramanian said the government assured them more safety and security measures in hospitals, including installation of CCTV cameras, deployment of police personnel and streamlining entry of attenders by issuing them identity cards.
Police outpost had been opened now at the KCSSH and it would be set up wherever it was needed.
The hospital official said the assailant had been identified as Vignesh, a resident of a suburban neighbourhood and his mother Kanchana was the patient.
The victim, Balaji Jagannathan, is a renowned oncologist and is serving as an associate professor in the medical oncology department in the hospital.
The official, an emergency medicine anesthesiologist, told reporters: "He (Vignesh) closed the OP room (from inside) and stabbed the doctor in his neck, behind his ear, chest, forehead, on his back, head and stomach. There was huge blood loss. He is a heart patient and has undergone surgery for his heart ailment."
The oncologist, who had also undergone pacemaker implantation, was resuscitated and immediately operated upon by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons.
The victim bled excessively and his medication for his heart ailment is the likely reason for more blood loss. Two units of blood were transfused and all wounds were sutured.
The official said the assailant claimed that his mother was provided chemotherapy six times in the hospital. After shifting to a private hospital, they were told that her lungs were affected. What transpired between the victim and the assailant is not clear.
Meanwhile, Vignesh's mother said her son was a 'heart and epilepsy patient,' and alleged that Dr Balaji's response and treatment were not proper.
Police commissioner A Arun inspected the hospital and reviewed the security arrangements.
Deputy CM Udhayanidhi said the assailant had been visiting the hospital for six months for treatment of his mother and hence there was no suspicion about him.
The deputy CM said: "For half an hour he (Vignesh) had discussed with the doctor. Based on what he was told in a private hospital, he had taken this decision out of anger. Stern legal action will be taken against him and steps will be taken to prevent recurrence."
AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami said there was no security for a 'government doctor in a government hospital,' and it showed the status of the law and order situation.
Palaniswami, the leader of the opposition, sought tough action against the culprit.
BJP state unit chief K Annamalai and Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam chief Vijay hit out at CM Stalin and the DMK regime over the incident.
Udhayanidhi, alongwith Subramanian, inspected the hospital. They met the oncologist, being treated at the ICU. Later, AIADMK leaders D Jayakumar and C Vijayabaskar also met the doctor under treatment.
Condemning the attack, the health minister said Dr Balaji is a renowned professional and he lauded the doctor for his service to the people in various state-run hospitals for many years.
The health minister, promising stern action, further said: "The doctor is doing well. He spoke to me on a video call. Vignesh's mother Kanchana had been treated well for advanced cancer. Vignesh argued with the doctor alleging improper treatment and attacked him. This is strongly condemnable.