(Yicai) Sept. 24 -- A leading orthopedic surgeon at a hospital in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou has been seriously hurt after a former patient stabbed him multiple times, according to a media report.

The assailant entered Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine's First Affiliated Hospital

early on Sept. 22 and locked himself inside a consultation room with Dr. Wang Haibin, who heads its orthopedic center, before viciously attacking him, Modern Evening Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Wang was admitted to the intensive care unit with serious damage to several major organs, but his life is no longer in danger, the report said.

Wang had performed knee surgery on his assailant several years ago, with the man having returned to see him at the hospital just last week, per the report.

Yicai visited the hospital yesterday, with medical staff reporting more security following the attack and armed police stationed at the main entrance. Security checks were also intensified at the entrance of the outpatient department from the underground carpark, from where the assailant allegedly entered the building after using a car ride-hailing service.

The hospital did not respond to Yicai's requests for an update on Wang's medical condition.

Born in Shandong in 1970, Wang was Guangdong province’s first postdoctoral scholar in traditional Chinese orthopedics. He has more than 30 years of experience in foundational research and clinical applications of Chinese medicine, holds a number major academic positions, and has performed more than 2,000 joint replacement operations.

Following the knife attack, many patients and their families expressed their sorrow and described Wang as warm, approachable, and leaving a lasting impression.

China has seen 13 cases of violence against medical workers in multiple cities since 2020, according to incomplete statistics.

A lawyer said laws and regulations can be used to punish assaults on healthcare workers, but pointed out that such extreme cases often stem from individual emotional outbursts. The deeper social causes require attention from the government and all sectors of society, the person pointed out.

Editor: Martin Kadiev