Conflicting test reports put victim’s family in fix
Son claims two reports differed on Covid-19 diagnosis
PHOTO: FILE
RAWALPINDI:
Conflicting novel coronavirus (Covid-19) test reports of a deceased patient only a day apart have left her family in an ambiguity.
Abbas, the eldest son of the 60-year-old Hameeda Bibi, told The Express Tribune that he had taken his mother, who had a pre-existing kidney condition, to a private hospital on June 8 when her health deteriorated.
After being provided initial medical aid, the private hospital management advised them to take the patient to a public hospital for further treatment. Subsequently, she was taken to the District Headquarters (DHQ) hospital. Soon after, doctors at the DHQ shifted her on to a ventilator as her health continued to deteriorate.
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Abbas said that after examining the patient’s medical history, doctors suspected that she may have contracted the virus. They proceeded to obtain her swab samples and referred them to the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) for testing.
But before the test report could be compiled, Hameeda passed away.
The hospital management, however, refused to hand over her body until the results of her tests are and it is confirmed whether she had the contagion or not. In the meantime, her body was moved to the morgue.
Three days later, on June 11, Abbas said that DHQ management informed him that the victim had been infected with the virus and provided him with the results of the test.
Subsequently, the victim’s funeral was carried out under strict standard operating procedures (SOPs).
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But, on June 12, when Abbas went to the hospital to receive his mother’s death certificate, the DHQ management handed him another test report along with a certificate which indicated that Hameeda Bibi did not have Covid-19. The traumatised son then approached senior officials of the healthcare facility, including the DHQ medical superintendent (MS).
Receiving no cogent response on the contrasting reports about his deceased mother, he said that he was confused as to whether he should get his family tested for the virus or not and whether they should isolate.
Meanwhile, the DHQ said they do not have any testing facility and all samples are sent to the HFH. They asserted reports are provided to patients or their families unchanged.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2020.
Conflicting novel coronavirus (Covid-19) test reports of a deceased patient only a day apart have left her family in an ambiguity.
Abbas, the eldest son of the 60-year-old Hameeda Bibi, told The Express Tribune that he had taken his mother, who had a pre-existing kidney condition, to a private hospital on June 8 when her health deteriorated.
After being provided initial medical aid, the private hospital management advised them to take the patient to a public hospital for further treatment. Subsequently, she was taken to the District Headquarters (DHQ) hospital. Soon after, doctors at the DHQ shifted her on to a ventilator as her health continued to deteriorate.
June 6: Pakistan can’t afford another lockdown, says PM as Covid-19 tally jumps to 91,456
Abbas said that after examining the patient’s medical history, doctors suspected that she may have contracted the virus. They proceeded to obtain her swab samples and referred them to the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) for testing.
But before the test report could be compiled, Hameeda passed away.
The hospital management, however, refused to hand over her body until the results of her tests are and it is confirmed whether she had the contagion or not. In the meantime, her body was moved to the morgue.
Three days later, on June 11, Abbas said that DHQ management informed him that the victim had been infected with the virus and provided him with the results of the test.
Subsequently, the victim’s funeral was carried out under strict standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Pakistan's health system braces for Covid-19 peak
But, on June 12, when Abbas went to the hospital to receive his mother’s death certificate, the DHQ management handed him another test report along with a certificate which indicated that Hameeda Bibi did not have Covid-19. The traumatised son then approached senior officials of the healthcare facility, including the DHQ medical superintendent (MS).
Receiving no cogent response on the contrasting reports about his deceased mother, he said that he was confused as to whether he should get his family tested for the virus or not and whether they should isolate.
Meanwhile, the DHQ said they do not have any testing facility and all samples are sent to the HFH. They asserted reports are provided to patients or their families unchanged.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2020.