KARACHI: While talking to journalists at the funeral of Pakistan Peoples Party leader Fauzia Wahab, Rehman Malik said that the government will formulate a law to set an age limit for surgeons.
He said that at present there was no law with regards to the age limit of a surgeon but the government will soon formulate one. “Doctors above 60 years will not be allowed to operate on patients.” He also said that the government has taken notice of negligence by the hospital administration and has given orders to seal the records.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Fauzia Wahab was laid to rest in the Gizri graveyard on Monday.
Her funeral prayers were held at Sultan Masjid, attended by a large number of political leaders, civil society members and family friends.
Among those who were present were, the chief minister, Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh’s acting governor, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, prime minister’s adviser, Rehman Malik, Gilgit Baltistan’s chief minister, Mehdi Shah, PPP’s general secretary, Jahangir Badar, federal minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz’s Sindh president Saleem Zia, Dr Arif Alvi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Sindh Assembly MPAs.
Many PPP leaders were besides themselves with grief as Senator Saeed Ghani, Rashid Rabbani and Waqar Mehdi tried to comfort them.
Malik also said that an investigation team will also be set up to probe the cause of death. He said that senior doctors will be included in the committee. “Strict action will be taken if anyone is found guilty,” said Malik.
“It had been a minor surgery but due to the negligence of doctors her condition kept deteriorating and she passed away.” Fauzia Wahab was not only an asset for the party but for the whole country and worked for democracy and rule of law in the country, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
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while i dont have any special sympathy for older doctors, but if the government cannot keep out retired army cadre people from its ranks, why make a special case out of doctors?
Rehman Malik is in media as usual for wrong reasons( absence of sense)
All this because a prominent politician died due to negligence (if it was). What about the other hundreds of Pakistani's who face this every day. At that moment this guy or any other politician s no where to be seen. Look at the condition of the Govt. Hospitals and then speak Mr. Malik. I think its high time a upper limit is placed on the age of MNA's. Because what you are saying implies that you have lost your senses in MID 50's.**
Delayed removal of gall bladder stones can lead to cases like this. More experienced the surgeon, the better he is at handling the operation. How can these politicians be so judgemental.
so basically, If a politician dies, the whole medical system undergoes an overhaul... what about the poor people? Irony anyone ?
No.. setting age limit is not good... Government can set up a committee who will observe the health of a surgeon by medically test and will issue a certificate every year certifying that the surgeon can perform surgeries.
has anyone ever seen rehman malik say anything sensible... i doubt it.... so let him ramble away...he is the least of anyone's worries
Then this should also apply to all politicians.
Dear Mr Rahman Malik, Surgeons older than 60 years world over operate patents and Pakistan is not the only country. Complications do arise even in minor surgeries and that is a well known fact. Let the whole issue be investigated by a medical board consisting of some eminent doctors ( if required from overseas) and politicians should keep away from this. You statement will demoralize even well meaning doctors and future no one will be willing to treat politicians or VIPs.
Rehman Malik is talking through his head. He does not know anything but just appeared on the TV to show his portrait. For quite some time he is not seen in the public media so he has started a lot of unnecessary gossip.
All I see is people like Rehman Malik or Babar Ghauri talking about doctors like they have studied from medical colleges and got degrees in surgery from professional/prestigious medical universities. The truth is, they don't have a clue of what they are talking about and they just want their names in papers and media. Please, either bring forth some one worthy of commenting on this issue or do not comment at all.
Only doctors can know about negligence in these cases!