Thamarassery: Tension erupted at the Government Taluk Hospital in Thamarassery, Kerala, on Wednesday after a doctor was attacked with a machete by the father of a young girl who had died of amoebic meningoencephalitis in August. The shocking incident triggered widespread outrage among the medical fraternity.
Outrage Among Medical Community
Following the attack, the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) called for a flash strike across Kozhikode district. The association announced that all services, except emergency care, would be suspended. However, at Thamarassery Taluk Hospital, doctors decided to completely halt all services as a mark of protest.
Sudden Attack Inside Hospital
According to reports, the doctor was conversing with colleagues and a patient when the child’s father suddenly attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon, striking his head. The assailant allegedly blamed the doctor for his daughter’s death before being subdued by others present at the scene. Police have since taken the attacker into custody.
Doctor Undergoing Treatment
The injured doctor received first aid at the Taluk Hospital and was later shifted to a private hospital for advanced medical care. Hospital authorities described his condition as stable, though he sustained significant injuries during the assault.
Child’s Death Sparked Tensions
The attack stems from the death of a young girl who was admitted to the same hospital in August with fever symptoms. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and she died of amoebic meningoencephalitis on August 14, while being transferred to the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Kozhikode.
Family Alleges Medical Negligence
The grieving family had earlier accused the hospital staff of negligence, claiming that the girl did not receive timely or adequate treatment during her admission. The tragic case had already raised concerns over infection control and diagnostic lapses at the hospital.
Other Family Members Also Infected
Two of the girl’s siblings had reportedly been infected with the same rare disease but have since recovered after receiving appropriate treatment. The district health authorities are said to be monitoring the situation closely to prevent further spread.
Recent Attacks on Doctors Raise Concern
This incident adds to a growing list of violent attacks against doctors in the country. In a similar case reported earlier, a 50-year-old doctor in Tamil Nadu was stabbed multiple times outside his clinic by a man seeking revenge. The accused was arrested, and the injured doctor, who suffered serious abdominal and thigh wounds, is now stable after receiving treatment.
