Islamabad: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (MDC) here Monday conducted detailed preliminary hearings into multiple serious incidents, including two student suicides and a controversial operating theatre video scandal, with its president Prof Dr Rizwan Taj reiterating zero tolerance for harassment, negligence and professional misconduct in medical and dental institutions.
Officials said the council convened three separate preliminary hearings to ensure a fair, transparent and evidence-based assessment of the cases before initiating formal disciplinary proceedings. Representatives of the concerned institutions were summoned and asked to present their accounts so that the factual position could be clearly established.
During the proceedings, PMDC president accompanied by Registrar Dr Rehan Naqvi, reviewed initial findings and sought clarifications from institutional representatives and examined available evidence to determine whether the cases met the threshold for referral to the PMDC Disciplinary Committee.
The first hearing related to the widely reported “OT video leak scandal” involving postgraduate trainees at Lady Willingdon Hospital in Lahore. All five doctors involved in the incident appeared before the council.
The second hearing focused on the suicide of a final year MBBS student, Ms Fareeha, at Fatima Jinnah Medical College in Lahore. The principal of the college appeared before the council and briefed the members about the incident.
The third hearing examined the suicide of Ms Fehmida Leghari, a third year MBBS student at Muhammad Medical College in Mirpurkhas. The college principal presented details of the incident.
Officials said the PMDC sought to ascertain whether there was any evidence of harassment, institutional negligence or failure of student support mechanisms in both suicide cases. After completing the preliminary review, the PMDC president ordered that all three cases be formally referred to the council’s Disciplinary Committee for adjudication. The committee is scheduled to meet next week. The PMDC president said the council would ensure strict action against any individual or institution found responsible.
