FAISALABAD: A three-member committee probing into alleged negligence and delay in the treatment of a boy shot by police in People’s Colony cleared the doctors of Social Security and District Headquarters hospitals of charges.

Committee comprising General Hospital, Samanabad, Medical Superintendent Dr Khalid Fakhar, Chak Jhumra Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Surgeon Dr Ibrar Ahmed and Deputy District Officer (health) Dr Abdul Mujahid was formed by District Coordination Officer Noorul Ameen Mengal on June 24.

The committee was given just one day to complete the inquiry and submit its report. However, it took the body five days to reach the conclusion.

Former People’s Colony SHO sub-inspector Farhad Cheema had opened fire on Farhan and his friend Fahad, considering them robbers, on June 22.

Farhan received a bullet in his chest that led to his death, while Fahad also sustained a bullet injury. The boys were taking selfies near Sabina Park, Susan Road, when shot by police.

A murder case has been registered against the accused policeman who is in police custody on physical remand.

Family of Farhan had alleged that doctors of the Social Security and the DHQ hospitals, where the boy was taken, had not provided him treatment in time that led to his death.

The patient was fully conscious and could talk when he was brought to the (Social Security) hospital, the committee noted in the inquiry report (a copy available with Dawn). His vitals were recorded as BP 100/70, Pulse 110/min, respiratory rate 24/min and temperature 98f, the report mentioned.

The inquiry team recorded the statements of Dr Umar Farooq, the medical officer at the hospital’s emergency ward and Dr Syed Jibbran Jaffri, deputy medical superintendent, regarding Farhan’s treatment It said the patient remained at the Social Security Hospital for 15-20 minutes where he had been given all the required treatment. Subsequently, he was shifted to the surgical emergency of the DHQ Hospital for further management as Social Security Hospital, being a secondary care facility, was not equipped to handle a major emergency, the report added.

Quoting Dr Tauseef Iqbal of the DHQ Hospital, the report said, a constable had informed the doctor about the firm arm injury to the boy, terming the incident a “police encounter”.

It said the doctor immediately attended the patient, noted his injuries along with his vitals and Farhan was shifted to the surgical emergency for further treatment.

Dr Khurram Saqib of DHQ Hospital, who also treated the boy, said the patient remained in shock throughout the surgery procedure and expired on surgical table at 12:05am on June 23.

The committee, giving its observation, said the patient was managed at the Social Security Hospital emergency and provided all available facilities. No delay in treatment and shifting of the patient had been found, it observed.

Similarly, it said, the patient was in time and properly managed at the DHQ Hospital and no delay was found at any stage.

Concluding the inquiry, the committee noted: “All the members of the inquiry committee are unanimously of the opinion that according to the record available at the Social Security and DHQ hospitals and statements of all the attending doctors, it seems that no negligence/delay has been committed in treating deceased Farhan.”

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play