LAHORE, Jan 23: The Lahore General Hospital’s medical superintendent has suspended an additional medical superintendent (AMS), a charge nurse, a postgraduate trainee student admission and issued warning to two officials after an initial inquiry into the incident of a baby’s birth outside the hospital’s gynae ward toilet.

Uzma Bibi of Kasur had reported the hospital’s emergency department with labour pains in the early hours on Jan 13 (during Eidul Azha holidays). She was referred to the labour room where the staff conducted some tests and then discharged her saying that no bed was available. Reportedly, the patient and her attendants repeatedly requested the hospital staff for admission, but to no avail.

Owing to severe pain, the patient went to toilet outside the gynae ward-II and delivered a baby. Some women present on the occasion covered the patient. Later, family members took the patient and new born baby back home in Mahalam village in Kasur.

Patient’s husband Tariq Ali said the hospital staff had not cooperated with them and they faced problems beyond imagination.

Following the report, hospital MS Dr Ejaz Ahmad Sheikh formed a three-member inquiry committee comprising AMS (female) Dr Zahida Mahmood Butt (chairperson), DMS (Admn) Dr Muhammad Saeed and nursing superintendent Ms Nasreen S. Das.

The inquiry committee has submitted a preliminary inquiry report, while a detailed report would be submitted in a due course of time.

The preliminary inquiry revealed that the patient had reported for treatment/delivery at hospital’s emergency department at 4:30am on Jan 13. The patient was referred to the labour room where doctors on duty attended the patient and advised her ultrasound examination and other tests. Her ultrasound was done. Meanwhile, the report said, the patient went to the toilet to attend to the call of the nature. Outside the toilet, patient’s spontaneous delivery took place.

The report further said that both mother and the newborn child were saved and they went home. It said the negligence of the gynae and obstetrics department staff and the allegation of refusal for admission was still to be confirmed through a detailed inquiry.

However, the prima-facie on the charge of negligence towards their duties and misconduct, the hospital MS has suspended AMS (Admn) Dr Rana Shafique Ahmad, charge nurse Ashaq Naz, suspended admission of paid FCPS-II trainee Dr Ayesha Ibrahim and issued warning to senior registrar Dr Alia Bashir and ward cleaner Bashiran Bibi.

AMS (Admn) Dr Ahmad has been suspended on the charges of not placing duty staff in right number during Eid holidays and charge nurse Ms Naz for negligent behaviour towards her duties. Postgraduate trainee Dr Ayesha’s admission was suspended for her negligent behaviour towards her duties. Dr Alia was issued warning for non-vigilant supervision on her junior doctors, while ward cleaner Bashiran was warned for not taking right action at the right time.

The LGH medical superintendent has sent the preliminary inquiry report and consequent administrative decisions to the Punjab health secretary.