Woman doctor on duty stabbed to death at government hospital in by accused who was brought to hospital, for a medical examination by the police
AMN / WEB DESK
In a bizarre incident a patient in Kerala stabbed to death a doctor who as attending him. Dr Vandana Das, a 23-year old doctor who was working as a surgeon in Kottarakkara Government Taluk Hospital in Kollam district was stabbed to death by an assailant school teacher-turned-liquor/drug addict on Wednesday.
Sandeep, a school teacher-turned-liquor/drug addict was brought to the hospital with his leg bleeding and Dr Das was attending to him when he snatched scalpel and stabbed her many times. There were six deep injuries on the surgeon’s body and some of the injuries seriously damaged her lungs and heart.
There was no emergency stabilizing system available in the hospital and she had to be shifted to a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. But the doctors have confirmed her death on arrival. Doctors in Government and private hospitals across the State came out in the open protest the attack on Dr Das, the lone daughter of her parents. “We have been pleading with the government for ensuring the safety of the doctors and nurses working in hospitals.
The attacks against medical staff including doctors and nurses are on the increase in Kerala since the Covid-19 days. But all our requests fell on deaf ears,” Dr TN Suresh, President, Kerala Government Medical Officers Association told The Pioneer.
According to Dr Suresh, this is the first of its kind incident in the country in which a duty doctor falling victim to the patient who was being attended to, What aggravated the situation, according to doctors and post graduate medical students in the State was the statement by Veena George, Minister for Health, who is known for courting controversies whenever she makes any statement. “The death of Dr Vandana Das was the result of incompetency and inexperience,” said the Minister, a TV news reader-turned-politician.
Governor Mohammed Arif Khan was the first to reach the hospital offering homages to the slain doctor. Chief Minister Vijayan, accompanied by heavy posse of policemen reached later as he was busy preparing for his trip to USA and Cuba. At the time of going to Press, the entire Government Hospitals in the State wore a deserted look as all medical staff except those in casualty sections have gone on strike demanding action against the police who remained mute spectators while Dr Das was being attacked.