Medical negligence: Family protests woman’s death

BAHAWALPUR: A woman’s family protested in front of a police station on  Wednesday alleging  that she had died due to the doctors’ negligence. Police said Zakiya Bibi had received a head wound 14 days ago due to a collision between two motorcycles in Rahim Yar Khan. She was taken to Shaikh Zayed Hospital. The family said the ward in-charge, Dr Muhammad Ali Bukhari, had pressured them to take her to a private clinic. The family said he also demanded Rs200,000. The family said when they refused to shift her to a private clinic the doctor started ignoring her. She was shifted to the emergency unit when her condition worsened. The family took her body to the DCO’s office. Bukhari said the patient was brought to the hospital in critical condition. He said she appeared for a while to be recovering before her condition worsened suddenly. He denied having advised the family to take her to a private clinic or asking for Rs200,000. He said he hoped for a fair inquiry.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2014.