PHC responds to botched surgeries
The YDA Punjab has called a General Council meeting to discuss the abolition of house officer seats in various hospitals, the new service structure for doctors and the Punjab Healthcare Commission. PHOTO: FILE
The Punjab Healthcare Commission suspended all kinds of surgeries and the operation theatre services of a private hospital for carrying out botched surgeries of homonym female patients and issued a show-cause notice to the hospital administration.
Two homonym patients, Kausar Parveen, residents of different areas of Faisalabad district, had been brought to a private hospital in Faisalabad for gallbladder and knee surgeries, respectively.
Their CNICs carried different surnames, but the House Officer, Dr Hassan, did not pay attention to it while preparing the operation list.
The surgeon, Prof. Dr. Awais Shuja, “carried out botched operations as per the list without following the standard operating procedures of the surgical department”.
For investigation, a two-member PHC enquiry team inspected the hospital besides recording statements of patients and medics concerned.
Based on the findings, the PHC suspended all surgical and OT services except for emergency procedures.
This had also been done due to the non-availability of updated culture and sensitivity reports, the presence of ceiling fans in the operation theatres, and the placing of operation tables without any physical separations. Also, there was an incomplete wall between operation theatres.
Moreover, all services being rendered by Prof Awais Shuja had been suspended until further orders.
The PHC issued a show-cause notice to the hospital administration for further action into the medical negligence.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2023.