Man charged over Melbourne surgeon bashing

A surgeon is fighting for his life after he was allegedly bashed outside a Melbourne hospital for telling a man to stop smoking.

Heart surgeon Patrick Pritzwald-Stegmann is in critical condition at The Alfred Hospital after he was allegedly punched near the entrance to the Box Hill Hospital on Tuesday night.

An Eastern Health spokeswoman says Mr Pritzwald-Stegmann's family has requested privacy after the "terrible incident".

The Australian Medical Association condemned the attack, saying violence has become a common occurrence in hospitals.

"You should be able to turn up to work and not be abused, threatened or assaulted," AMA Victoria president Lorraine Baker said in a statement.

A 22-year-old Mill Park man has been charged with intentionally causing injury and is due to face court on Thursday morning.