M’sian psychiatric patient stabs man in Selayang Hospital after allegedly growing agitated from waiting for a bed

For many years, Malaysia’s healthcare scene has been dealing with the lack of manpower. Following news of patients being made to wait for hours and medical officers having to take up multiple shifts to cope with increased case loads, concerns have been raised as to whether the local healthcare system may be stretch too thin.

Psychiatric patient stabs man in Selayang Hospital

Consequently, extended wait times at Selayang Hospital have allegedly led a psychiatric patient to lose his temper before causing injury to another individual yesterday (February 14th, 2023). As reported by newspaper The Straits Times, it was claimed that the psychiatric patient became agitated after being left stranded in the hospital’s emergency ward for a bed to be made available.

This was attributed to the fact that hospital wards at the time were completely full, leaving patients in the ER to wait indefinitely. The irate patient proceeded to then procure a knife from the nurse’s pantry, before shockingly stabbing a dengue patient once in the back, and two times in his abdomen.

Due to the severity of the injuries sustained that left the knife wedged in the victim’s abdomen, he had to undergo immediate surgery.

Following the incident, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has responded to the crisis and revealed in a statement dated today (February 15th, 2023) that the psychiatric patient in question has been detained by the police. After stabbing the victim, he was immediately apprehended by a medical staff and a nurse and placed in temporary custody until the police arrived.

As of now, the victim is reportedly in stable condition after undergoing surgery and is conscious after being warded in the Intensive Care Unit. A police report has been made over the incident, and the case is being investigated under Section 326 of the Penal Code for causing grievous hurt with a weapon, reports Malay Mail.

Health Ministry Director-General Tan Sri Noor Hisham Abdullah has denied that congestion at Selayang Hospital was what provoked the stabbing, but has vowed to review and improve existing Standard Operating Procedures to protect public safety.

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