Man Who Stabbed Patient At Local Hospital To Undergo Psychiatric Evaluation In Tg Rambutan

By Lara Kramer  •  01 Mar 2023 in News

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On February 14, 22-year-old Mohd Khairul Kamul reportedly stabbed another patient three times, out of rage due to his extended wait-time frustration, while seated at the emergency department for hours waiting for an available bed.

Reports confirm that Khairul, who was a psychiatric patient at the hospital, obtained a knife from the staff pantry to commit the act. The victim, Vijayindran Purushothman, who was a dengue patient, sustained injuries to his back and abdomen.

Purushothman underwent surgery due to the knife being lodged directly into his abdomen.

Khairul, who was not represented, admitted to the court during the reading of his charge before Nor Rajiah Mat Zin yesterday that he had been hallucinating before committing the act.

He claimed, “I was hearing voices in my head and was hallucinating.”

Invoking Section 342 of the Criminal Process Code, deputy public prosecutor Wan Nur Iman Wan Ahmad Afzal sought the court to order Khairul to undergo a psychiatric assessment.

“Since his arrest on February 15, the accused has been receiving psychiatric care at Selayang Hospital. We believe the accused’s psychological state is volatile,” he noted.

The court subsequently mandated that Khairul obtain a mental health evaluation on March 29 at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, located in the vicinity of Tanjung Rambutan.

Separately, local healthcare site CodeBlue recently stated that Selayang Hospital’s failure to handle overcrowding in its emergency room was a ticking danger for both patients and professionals practicing there. This statement was made just one day prior to the stabbing.

The electronic medical record (EMR) system, according to staff physicians who spoke to CodeBlue, has degenerated into a “embarrassing and degrading mess,” causing lengthy wait times, unneeded stress, and subpar medical care. Another physician likewise asserted that emergency room wait times ranged from 24 to 72 hours.

Additionally, medical professionals have been pleading with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to act after several hospitals across Malaysia struggled with congestion in recent weeks, citing the case as an proof of urgency.