Negligence: Doctors mistakenly declare woman dead
Ruckus breaks out as family protests
Ruckus breaks out as family protests. PHOTO: EXPRESS
RAWALPINDI:
Family of a young woman scuffled with staff at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) on Monday after doctors erroneously declared her dead.
Hafsa, 19, was brought to the hospital five days ago while suffering from high blood pressure. She was admitted and moved into the intensive care unit.
On Monday morning, doctors declared her dead and proceeded to remove her from the ventilator. Acting on instinct, Hafsa’s mother checked her pulse and discovered that her daughter was still alive.
The girl’s family immediately raised hue and cry against the doctors tending to the girl. The protesting family scuffled with the hospital staff as they were forced out of the ICU. During the scuffle, window panes of the ward were also broken.
Owing to the protest and scuffle, doctors put Hafsa back on the ventilator and she was said to be out of danger. Shut out of the ICU, the protesting family met with Punjab Health Secretary Najam Shah who was visiting the hospital and told him about their ordeal.
They alleged that first doctors did not tend to Hafsa properly with the designated on duty doctor constantly preoccupied with his cellphone. Furthermore, when the doctor finally came to check on Hafsa, he declared her dead even though she was still alive.
According to official sources in BBH, the secretary listened to the family’s complaint and directed Dr Muhammad Umer, Principal of Rawalpindi Medical College and allied hospitals to carry out a detailed inquiry and fix responsibility. The secretary also directed the Dr Umer to submit an inquiry report within 48 hours.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2016.
Family of a young woman scuffled with staff at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) on Monday after doctors erroneously declared her dead.
Hafsa, 19, was brought to the hospital five days ago while suffering from high blood pressure. She was admitted and moved into the intensive care unit.
On Monday morning, doctors declared her dead and proceeded to remove her from the ventilator. Acting on instinct, Hafsa’s mother checked her pulse and discovered that her daughter was still alive.
The girl’s family immediately raised hue and cry against the doctors tending to the girl. The protesting family scuffled with the hospital staff as they were forced out of the ICU. During the scuffle, window panes of the ward were also broken.
Owing to the protest and scuffle, doctors put Hafsa back on the ventilator and she was said to be out of danger. Shut out of the ICU, the protesting family met with Punjab Health Secretary Najam Shah who was visiting the hospital and told him about their ordeal.
They alleged that first doctors did not tend to Hafsa properly with the designated on duty doctor constantly preoccupied with his cellphone. Furthermore, when the doctor finally came to check on Hafsa, he declared her dead even though she was still alive.
According to official sources in BBH, the secretary listened to the family’s complaint and directed Dr Muhammad Umer, Principal of Rawalpindi Medical College and allied hospitals to carry out a detailed inquiry and fix responsibility. The secretary also directed the Dr Umer to submit an inquiry report within 48 hours.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2016.