PMDC initiates inquiry into surgery filming

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has taken serious notice of a disturbing incident reported in the media regarding the alleged filming of patients during surgical procedures at Lady Willingdon Hospital in Lahore.

According to initial reports, a video recorded inside an operating theatre, purportedly showing medical staff engaging in unprofessional conduct and inappropriately treating surgical procedures, has circulated widely.

The incident has raised grave concerns regarding patient dignity, confidentiality, and adherence to established medical ethics.

The PMDC has formally issued notices to the hospital administration as well as the doctors allegedly involved in recording and disseminating the video of patients.

The council has directed all concerned individuals to submit a detailed explanation, clarifying their roles and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Meanwhile, the Department of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education has terminated the clinical training of five postgraduate residents (PGRs)—trainee doctors at Lady Willingdon Hospital—on account of alleged negligence and violation of discipline in hospitals.

In this regard, the PMDC has directed the department to provide factual details of the incident along with the action taken by the department and the current status of the case at the earliest so that the PMDC may proceed in the matter.

In an official statement, the PMDC stated that recording patients without consent, particularly in sensitive clinical environments such as operating theatres, constitutes a serious breach of professional ethics and may violate patient rights and confidentiality standards.