A prominent Irish cardiologist was shot dead by a co-worker last night in what appeared to be suicide attack in Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, it has emerged.
Police have confirmed that Dr Brian McGovern was shot dead by Ms Colleen Mitchell. The 51-year-old woman then turned the gun on herself.
Officials would not comment on the motive for the shooting.
Ms Mitchell worked in the lab near Dr McGovern's office but she was not his personal assistant. Hospital officials say Ms Mitchell had worked for several doctors performing intake duties for heart patients, as well as secretarial work.
The shooting took place in a small office in the hospital's Cardiac Arrhythmia Centre and Electrophysiology Lab, where Dr McGovern worked, according to Dr Peter Slavin, president of the hospital.
Dr McGovern (47) was co-director of the hospital's Cardiac Arrhythmia Service. His speciality was treating patients with disturbances of the heart rhythm. He was also an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
He wrote more than 100 articles published in professional journals, many focusing on arrhythmia management. He was also chairman of the Atrial Fibrillation Foundation, created by patients and physicians interested in the disease to encourage research.
"He was an outgoing and friendly person. He had a nice Irish brogue and a twinkle in his eye," said David Torchiana, chief executive and chairman of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organisation.
Dr McGovern was married to a doctor who did not work at MGH, and had two young daughters.
AP