A teenage patient has been sentenced to six years in prison for stabbing a doctor in the chest at a regional Tasmanian hospital in April 2023. The young man, who was underage at the time of the incident and cannot be named, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to maim and two counts of threatening police officers. The attack occurred at the North West Regional Hospital after the patient refused further medical scans for a persistent headache following a fall.

During the court proceedings, the Burnie Supreme Court heard that the then-17-year-old became agitated when a nurse and then Dr. Wong, a locum doctor, encouraged him to undergo additional scans. He made an unusual statement about something being “broken outside” before Dr. Wong followed him out of the hospital building. It was at this point that the teenager produced a knife and stabbed the doctor.

Dr. Wong sustained a severe injury, described as a stab wound to the chest, which led to immediate pain and a life-threatening condition known as pericardial effusion. This condition significantly impaired his heart’s ability to pump blood. He was airlifted in critical condition to the Royal Hobart Hospital, where he underwent extensive open-heart surgery and spent nearly two weeks in intensive care and on the ward.

The teenager fled the scene but was apprehended by two police officers. He resisted arrest, drawing a knife from his pocket and refusing to comply with their commands. When additional officers arrived, he lunged at one of them, making further threats. He was eventually located in a backyard shortly after, still in possession of a knife, with police later finding two knives, one showing signs of blood staining.

In her sentencing remarks, Justice Tamara Jago referenced Dr. Wong’s victim impact statement, which conveyed profound psychological and physical trauma. The doctor described feeling a loss of his former self, enduring chronic pain, nightmares, and flashbacks. The extensive surgery required to save his life involved sawing open his breastbone and rib cage, leaving him with wires holding his chest together months later.

Justice Jago acknowledged the offender’s troubled childhood, marked by significant trauma and instability, and a history of prior offenses, including a violent incident involving a support worker. However, she emphasized that despite his complex background and a recent diagnosis of schizophrenia, which may have been a contributing factor, treatment alone was insufficient to prevent future violence.

The judge highlighted that the life-threatening injury was inflicted “for no reason” on a medical professional attempting to provide assistance. The sentence includes a non-parole period of four years, and upon his release, the young man will be subject to a supervision order overseen by the chief forensic psychiatrist, aimed at managing ongoing risks.

The incident has prompted calls for urgent changes within emergency departments to address the growing concerns about staff safety. The physical and emotional toll on healthcare professionals like Dr. Wong underscores the critical need for enhanced security measures and support systems in hospitals across the country, ensuring a safe environment for both patients and caregivers.

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Keywords: Tasmanian hospital stabbing, teenager jailed, doctor stabbed, wounding with intent, mental health in hospitals, emergency department safety, Dr Wong, schizophrenia diagnosis