Boy dies of poor diagnosis

Parents urge chief justice, CM to punish those involved

PESHAWAR: A 13-year-old student of class six reportedly died due to the negligence of doctors. However, representatives from the relevant hospital administrations were unavailable to comment on the matter.

The deceased has been identified as Muhammad Farhan.

His mother told journalists that Muhammad Farhan felt a shooting pain in his abdomen and started vomiting. He was immediately rushed to Naseerullah Khan Babar Memorial Hospital Peshawar. The doctor reportedly sent him back, saying the teenager had an injury in his stomach.

She said when he felt pain again, he was rushed to the same hospital where they conducted an ultrasound examination, after which the teenager was sent back home again. The mother believes the doctor either could not diagnose the ailment or the ultrasound machine was out of order because her son was later diagnosed with appendicitis.

She further said 13-year-old’s condition deteriorated and was rushed to Lady Reading Hospital where the doctors asked them to take the child to a private clinic, which they could not afford.

She said Muhammad Farhan was eventually shifted to Hayatabad Medical Complex where doctors disclosed that he was suffering from a rupture of the appendix and admitted him in the surgical ward. However, 13-year-old did not survive.

Muhammad Farhan’s parents have appealed to the chief justice, prime minister, chief minister and the PTI chief to conduct judicial and departmental enquiry in to the death and award punishment to those responsible.

Representatives from the relevant hospitals were unavailable to comment on the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2016.