Against norms: Lawyers try to interfere in diagnostic processes at laboratories

ABBOTABAD:

Lawyers have raised objections over the involvement of male technicians in carrying out pathological and radiology tests on female patients at private and government laboratories, health care centres and hospitals in Abbottabad district.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Advocate Awais Gulfraz Qazi, Advocate Sehrish Habib, Advocate Yasin Ayaz, Advocate Qazi Umar Farooq, Advocate Usman and others said most private and public sector laboratories were run by male technicians.

They said the lack of female technicians was “violation of women’s rights” and submitted a petition at Peshawar High Court’s Abbottabad bench in this regard.

As per the lawyers, these male technicians carry out all pathological and radiological tests, including collection of blood samples for different tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), X-rays, ultrasound, CT scan, echo-tests.

They added the involvement of male technicians can undermine the self-respect of women.

The lawyers referred to an alleged video scam that surfaced at King Abdullah Teaching Hospital Mansehra, where a senior medical officer was caught sexually harassing his female patients on tape.

They insisted women in Hazara had to rely on male technicians when there were so many trained female technicians who could carry out tests of female patients better.

They accused Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Care Commission for violating K-P Health Care Commission Act, 2015.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd,  2016.