Patrick Pritzwald-Stegmann, the heart surgeon who was attacked at Box Hill Hospital last month, has died from his injuries.
The Melbourne father-of-two died at The Alfred hospital on Tuesday night, four weeks after he was allegedly punched in the head in an altercation with a man in the foyer of the hospital.
Dr Pritzwald-Stegmann, aged 41, had been in intensive care since May 31. He was in a critical condition after undergoing emergency brain surgery.
The respected surgeon was heading home after work when he became involved in an altercation with a man. It is understood he was concerned about people smoking near the hospital entrance when the alleged assault occurred.
Police allege the surgeon was hit in the face and fell to the ground unconscious.
Mill Park man Joseph Esmaili has been charged with intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury in relation to the incident.
A police spokeswoman said the investigation would now be overseen by homicide detectives, in light of the death.
"Investigators will now await the results of a post mortem before reviewing charges," she said.
Dr Pritzwald-Stegmann is a father of young twins. In 2002, he graduated from a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.
He was based out of the Epworth Eastern hospital at Box Hill and was described as a skilled surgeon, with special interests in heart valve and aortic surgery.
Tributes began flowing for Dr Pritzwald-Stegmann on Wednesday morning, with Eastern Health's chief executive Adjunct Professor David Plunkett saying he was a "respected and admired member" of the hospital.
"Patrick was a passionate patient advocate, a generous teacher and had particular skill in thoracic surgery," he said.
"His work was truly outstanding and his commitment and dedication will be sorely missed by his colleagues, friends and patients.
"Patrick not only leaves a lasting legacy as a surgeon, but as a decent and genuine human being dedicated to the wellbeing of others."
Mr Plunkett said the surgeon's family had requested privacy.
Director of Epworth Eastern, Louise O'Connor, said he was as a well-loved and highly respected surgeon.
"Everyone is devastated by this incident," she said last month.
Dr Pritzwald-Stegmann's family had travelled to Australia from overseas to be at his bedside.
In the weeks after the attack on Dr Pritzwald-Stegmann, the state government announced funding for purpose built Emergency Department safe rooms.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy pledged to double the funding for health service initiatives aimed at protecting staff, from $20 million to $40 million.
Behavioural assessment rooms will be created at hospitals across Melbourne to manage and assess aggressive emergency department patients.
Ms Hennessy said the attack on Dr Pritzwald-Stegmann had "brought into crisp and stark reality the great challenge that so many of our health workforce members endure and encounter each and every single day".
Earlier this year, Fairfax Media revealed hospitals were putting violent patients into comas as a last resort to protect staff who were being sprayed with blood, held hostage, and bashed on the job.