Nishtar Hospital | Pakistan

LAHORE: A high-level inquiry committee has been constituted at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital to investigate allegations of medical negligence after a patient reportedly underwent surgery without mandatory HIV screening and later tested positive for the virus. The incident has triggered concern among healthcare staff over possible exposure and lapses in infection-control protocols. According to an order issued by the hospital’s medical superintendent, a four-member inquiry committee will investigate the incident and submit its findings within two days. Dr Riwad Noor, a member of the inquiry committee and in-charge of infectious diseases, told Dawn that they would conduct the inquiry on Friday and submit the report on Saturday. He said the situation was under control and that preventive measures had been taken to disinfect all surgical instruments. Hospital sources said the surgery was performed on Tuesday, May 19, in the hospital’s operating theatre. A junior doctor had reportedly flagged during pre-operative file...

Multan’s Nishtar Hospital has sacked a doctor working as an additional house officer for misbehaving with a patient’s family, a video of which had gone viral on social media, it emerged on Monday. In the video, the family members could be heard saying that the patient had passed away after doctors refused to give her a blood transfusion. When the video panned to the doctor in question, he raised his arm, showing his middle finger and walking away. A large crowd could also be seen in the video. The doctor, identified as Qasim Jamal, was suspended from duty on Dec 19, a day after the incident occurred. Meanwhile, an inquiry committee was also formed to probe the incident. Subsequently, the hospital issued a notification the same day stating that the doctor had been terminated with immediate effect for misconduct, and violating hospital rules and professional ethics. In the incident report dated Dec 20, the director of the Accident and Emergency Department said that the patient was admitted to the hospital in a ...