Chennai: Dr Balaji Jegannathan, who was stabbed by his patient's son on Wednesday at Kalaignar Centenary Super-Specialty Hospital, here, is likely to be shifted out of intensive care soon with doctors saying his condition was improving..
The doctor experienced severe blood loss because of the blood thinner he was taking to prevent clots. The doctor has a pacemaker and had undergone surgery for an aortic aneurysm.
"I spoke to him. He is stable and is aware of the treatment he is being given. His daughter, who is also a doctor, is with him. His wife and mother are also at the hospital," said health minister Ma Subramanian. "On Wednesday, the manufacturers of the pacemaker he is using said the device was working well," he said.
In a video released by the health department earlier on Thursday, Dr Balaji said, "Echo has been done. They have sutured the injuries and have put me on antibiotics to prevent infection. I am stable." He was seen thanking the health minister and hospital dean Dr Parthasarathy, who were all in PPEs.
Meanwhile, his assailant Vignesh was remanded in Puzhal prison. Police registered a case against him for attempted murder, trespass, acting with intent to cause injury, endangering life, and causing injury to a public servant on duty, besides violation of the TN Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2008.
While Tamil Nadu Govt Doctors Association (TNGDA) withdrew their strike as they were "happy" with the measures taken, other organisations held dharnas to create awareness about inadequate safety and security measures at hospitals in the city. On Thursday, there were no interruptions in outpatient surgeries or elective surgeries.
"We have decided on a non-cooperation movement," said Service and Post Graduate Doctors Association Secretary Dr A Ramalingam. "Patient services will not be affected, but we will not do surgeries under the state health insurance scheme, submit data including that of vector-borne diseases or vaccinations. We will not take classes in medical colleges or attend any departmental meetings until all our demands for safety are met," he said.