Doctor stabbed at Footscray’s Western General Hospital issues security warning as attacker sentenced
A RESPECTED neurosurgeon who was almost killed by a mentally ill man has called on the state government to increase security in public hospitals.
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A RESPECTED neurosurgeon who was almost killed by a mentally ill man has called on the state government to increase security in public hospitals.
Dr Michael Wong was attacked and stabbed by Kareem Al-Salami in the public foyer of the Western General Hospital in February 2014.
“Bastard, I kill you,” Al-Salami yelled during the frenzied attack.
Al-Salami was declared unfit for trial by reason of mental impairment and today formally placed on a supervision order by Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth and taken to the Thomas Embling Hospital for treatment.
Dr Wong was in court to see the matter finally resolved and released a statement saying he had no ill-will towards Al-Salami.
“He is a seriously disturbed man. I hope he gets the treatment he needs,” he said.
But Dr Wong said he no longer worked as many hours in public hospitals because of safety concerns.
“I admit that I may have lost some of my passion for the public system. I have reduced the time I spend in the public system and I no longer practise at Western General Hospital,” he said.
“I have seen no noticeable improvement in the safety for doctors and nurses in our public hospitals, despite promises in last year’s election campaign.
“There has been some well-meaning discussions, but real action to be taken.”
Dr Wong said security at hospitals should be the equivalent of that at courts and airports.
“Our hospitals need more security guards, more closed-circuit television and physical separation of patients and staff at arrivals and exits,” he said
“Unless the security system improves, it is inevitable there will be more incidents like mine.”