LAHORE:The Punjab Health Department has appointed two senior officers as inquiry officers to hear cases against those responsible for the incidents at Lady Willingdon Hospital involving the video recording of an operation and a security guard administering anesthesia to a patient.
Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian has been appointed as inquiry officer to hear the show-cause notices issued against those responsible for the video recording of an operation at Lady Willingdon Hospital.
Secretary Law and Parliamentary Affairs Asif Bilal Lodhi has been appointed as inquiry officer to hear the show-cause notices issued against those responsible for the incident in which a security guard administered anesthesia to a patient at the hospital, says a press release issued on Monday.
Show-cause notices have been issued to Prof DrUzma Hussain (BS-20), former Head of Department (HOD) Gynaecology; Dr Farah Inam (BS-19), former Medical Superintendent (MS); DrIqraHafeez, former WMO; IqraZahid, former Charge Nurse (BS-16); Fawzia Rashid, former Charge Nurse (BS-16); and Haseeb-ur-Rauf, former Cook (BS-02), under Section 7(B) read with Section 5(1)(A) of the PEEDA Act, 2006.
The show-cause notice stated that Professor DrUzma Hussain, as head of the Gynaecology Department, failed to exercise effective supervision and administrative control over the affairs of her unit.
Due to her negligence, the unprofessional and unethical conduct of subordinate doctors could not be stopped in time, leading to the alleged incident of betting on a C-section procedure.The notices further stated that Dr Farah Inam, as MS, was responsible for overall administration, discipline, and implementation of hospital SOPs, but failed to exercise proper supervision and administrative oversight, resulting in staff being involved in inappropriate behavior and betting during a C-section.
DrIqraHafeez, DrIqraZahid, and DrFawzia Rasheed were found involved in the incident, with video evidence allegedly showing them betting during the C-section procedure.Their conduct has been termed grave corruption, negligence, and a clear violation of medical ethics.
Haseeb-ul-Rauf, employed as a cook, was also found involved in unrelated activities inside the operation theatre despite his duties being outside the OT.Separate show-cause notices under Section 7(B) read with Section 5(1)(A) of the PEEDA Act, 2006, have also been issued to DrMunir Hussain (BS-19), former Senior Consultant Anaesthetist; Dr Farah Inam (BS-19), former Medical Superintendent; DrRutaba Khalid (BS-18), former Senior Registrar Anaesthetist; DrMunzaNaheed (BS-18), former Senior Registrar Anaesthetist; Dr Dar-e-ShahwarIram (BS-18), former Senior Woman Medical Officer/AMS (Admin); and Uzma Hassan (BS-17), former Head Nurse, in connection with the incident in which a security guard administered anesthesia to a patient at Lady Willingdon Hospital.
According to the show-cause notice, DrMunir Hussain, as in-charge of the Anaesthesia Department, failed to ensure that only trained staff were deployed in the operation theatre.Due to lack of supervision, an unrelated security guard administered an injection to the patient, and surprisingly, his name was also included in the duty roster approved by DrMunir Hussain.
Dr Farah Inam, as MS, was responsible for administration, discipline, and implementation of hospital SOPs, and the incident of anesthesia being administered by a security guard reflects serious administrative misconduct.
DrRutaba Khalid failed to supervise the medical procedures and perform her duties in the operation theatre.She committed serious professional misconduct by directing or allowing an unqualified person to administer anesthesia, thereby putting the patient’s life at risk.
DrMunzaNaheed, as AMS Admin, failed to supervise operation theatre activities and signed the duty roster that allowed the security guard to administer anesthesia despite knowing that he was not qualified to do so.
Dr Dar-e-ShehwarIram violated medical rules and regulations in the operation theatre and failed to ensure compliance, while her negligence allowed an unrelated official to perform medical procedures, amounting to professional negligence and compromise of patient safety.
Uzma Hassan also failed to supervise nursing staff and maintain control over the operation theatre, which enabled an unqualified person to administer anesthesia.The show-cause notice stated that concrete evidence exists in the form of video recording; therefore, a formal inquiry is not required.
