Nurse blamed for infant's thumb loss

Committee recommends disciplinary action under PEEDA Act

RAWALPINDI:

A fact-finding committee has held a female nurse responsible after a 23-day-old baby girl lost her thumb at Holy Family Hospital and recommended departmental action against her under the PEEDA Act. The nurse has also been directed to report to the department in Lahore.

According to details, the 23-day-old daughter of Attock-based carpenter Qaiser Mahmood was under treatment in the paediatric nursery of Holy Family Hospital when her right thumb was mysteriously severed.

Following the incident, Medical Superintendent Dr Ejaz Butt constituted a three-member fact-finding committee headed by Paediatrics Department Head Dr Hina Sattar, with Dr Nadeem Malik and the Nursing Superintendent as members.

In its report, the committee termed the incident a case of negligence, carelessness and dereliction of duty, holding nurse Neelam Siddiq responsible and recommending departmental proceedings against her under the PEEDA Act. She has also been directed to report to the department in Lahore.

Dr Butt termed the incident highly unfortunate, saying that while the nurse found responsible would face disciplinary action, every effort would be made to prevent such incidents in future.

He said strict instructions had been issued to all hospital departments to perform their professional duties in accordance with standard operating procedures.

Meanwhile, local police have registered a case on the complaint of Qaiser Mahmood.