A WEEK AFTER YANG WEN, a doctor at the Civil Aviation General Hospital in Beijing, died after being attacked by a patient's son, the hospital has received a large number of bouquets and bottles of milk tea from people. China Daily writer Zhang Zhouxiang comments:

After last Tuesday's bloody attack, many social media users have been ranting online, even calling bystanders at the scene of crime "cold-blooded" or "coward" for not trying to stop the attacker, who was armed with a knife.

But the bouquets laid at the hospital's emergency ward to mourn the doctor's death are proof that the majority of people have their heart at the right place. Every flower is like a message of condolence for the doctor and a note of condemnation for the attacker.

There was a time when after a doctor was attacked, certain media outlets would share tragic stories about the attackers, helping them win the "sympathy" of the public, many of whom would then be convinced the attack was in reaction to questionable treatment at the hands of the doctor.

But the deluge of bouquets and notes from the public this time is proof of a consensus emerging: Whatever the excuse, no one has the right to attack a doctor or a nurse. The "aggrieved" can register their complaints through proper channels, including legal ones. Under no condition should one wield a knife or a stick, be it against doctors, nurses or any member of society.

The flowers also erase the "coward" slur hurled by social media users on the "bystanders".

The public has rightly condemned the attacker, Sun Wenbin, but mere condemnation is not enough. The accused has been arrested and one hopes he receives the punishment he deserve so as to prevent similar attacks.