Doctor’s negligence? Hospital sealed after youth dies

Relatives of deceased man stage sit-in, block GT Road

JHELUM: District authorities in Deena on Thursday sealed a private hospital after a 22-year old patient at the facility died allegedly owing to negligence of doctors.

Police are conducting raids to apprehend the doctors.

Sheikh Imran died of complications arising after undergoing a seemingly simple procedure of having his appendix removed. However, his relatives claimed that owing to the alleged negligence of doctors, Imran’s conditioned worsened after the operation and he ultimately died.

Following his death, Imran’s family, friends and members of the local community staged a protest in the area and blocked GT road.

They placed Imran’s body on the road, vowing not to bury him till they got justice.

Imran’s relatives said that the young man complained of severe pain in his abdomen after which he was rushed to a hospital in Deena. He was admitted and operated upon. However, Imran’s condition kept deteriorating a day after the surgery. On the third day, doctors told his family to take Imran to Rawalpindi.

However, by the time Imran got to Rawalpindi, he had passed away. Doctors in Rawalpindi, however, said that the surgeon operating on Imran had committed gross negligence, causing the young man’s death.

Infuriated, the deceased’s family and friends protested and blocked the highway causing a miles-long traffic jam.

Assistant Commissioner Amber Gilani, DSP Shahid Nazir, EDO Health Jhelum Dr Asif Qadir and Town Municipal Officer Farhat Jameel held talks with the protestors and convinced them to end the sit-in.

The protest only ended after authorities sealed the hospital and a case was registered against the doctors.

Meawnhile, EDO Jhelum has set up a three-member panel consisting of Dr Shahid Sohail, Dr Owais Khatak, and Dr Khalid Chotala to probe the matter and file report within three days.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2016.