Australian
NRI doctor, former AMA head, assaulted by a gang
-undergoes brain surgery
SYDNEY, Sep. 20, 2008
Surinder Bhalla
NRI Dr. Mukesh Haikerwal, 47, father of three, was
bashed and mugged after he withdrew money from an ATM about 11.30pm.,
near his Williamstown home on Saturday night. He was struck on the
head with a baseball bat which fractured his skull, and then repeatedly
kicked as he lay on the ground. He was in the intensive care in
the hospital, where he underwent neurosurgery to remove blood clotting
from his brain.
He was president of Australian Medical Association (AMA) Victoria
from 2001-03 and federal president from 2005-07. Now he is serving
on the Federal Government's National Health and Hospitals Reform
Commission.
According to local media, ''Mukesh is a very generous person and
has readily given so much of his time, passion and commitment to
improving patient care in Australia. He is admired by patients,
colleagues and policy-makers alike.''
Dr Rischbieth, president, of Rural Doctors' Association of Australia
said:
- Mukesh is one of the most gentle people you are ever likely
to meet, and I have a huge amount of respect for him as a person
and for his work in improving Australia's health system
- It was a ''terrible'' thing to happen to someone who had devoted
so much time to helping others.
- I and many other rural doctors have been absolutely shocked
to hear of the unprovoked assault on him over the weekend.
Mukesh's wife Karyn and his three sons- Suresh, Ajaya and Jeevan,
have been keeping a bedside 24 hours. Niw he is in a stable condition.
He was born in Lucknow and grew up in England. In 1990, he moved
to Australia and set up a medical general practice in Melbourne.
Dr. Mukesh will be able to identify a gang of up to five men who
attacked him, the police said

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