Two doctors booked for declaring living newborn dead

Two doctors of a leading private hospital have been booked in an FIR under section 322 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on complaint of Muhammad Rafique Bohyo whose newborn was declared dead by the accused even though she was alive. The section pertains to unintentional murder and is punishable with diyat [financial compensation].

Declaring her dead delayed her treatment, said the complainant, adding that the child actually died 27 hours later during treatment at a state-run healthcare facility.

Two female doctors of the private hospital, Dr Heeramani Lohana and Dr Pakeeza, have been nominated in the FIR. The complainant stated that his daughter, who was born on October 28 at the same hospital, was alive when she was declared dead on October 30.

According to him, when they took their child to their residence in the Hussainabad area to perform the burial rites they saw movement in her body. The parents took the newborn back to the same hospital but he alleged that the hospital refused to admit her. Later the child was taken to Liaquat University Hospital where she died during treatment. A report issued by the private hospital stated cardiopulmonary issue as the cause of her death. Apnea was cited as a secondary reason. The complainant claimed that his daughter died more than 27 hours after the private hospital had wrongly declared her dead.