Doctor hacked in hospital by father of deceased child patient

A government hospital doctor was seriously injured after being attacked with a machete at Thamarassery Taluk Hospital in Kerala’s Kozhikode district on Wednesday.

Dr. Vipin PT, who was working in the emergency ward at the hospital, was moved to a private Hospital in Kozhikode for urgent treatment for a skull fracture. The assailant, Sanoop, the father of a young girl who died recently of amoebic meningitis, has been taken into custody following the assault, police sources said.

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Sanoop came to the hospital with two children to see the medical superintendent. When told the superintendent was in a meeting, he got upset. While Dr. Vipin was talking to another patient’s attendant, Sanoop suddenly attacked him with a machete, blaming him for his daughter’s death.

Anaya, a Class 4 student at Korangad Government LP School, died on August 14 after being admitted to the hospital with fever. She passed away while being taken to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

Following the incident, doctors in Kozhikode’s government hospitals started a strike, stopping all non-emergency services. Doctors’ associations are demanding better safety measures and support.