RAWALPINDI: A fight broke out between the family of a woman and doctors at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) after the girl was declared dead when she was alive.

The girl’s family, including her mother, broke the windows of the ICU, beat doctors and chanted slogans against the Punjab chief minister, the principal of the Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC) and the chief of Allied Hospitals and BBH Medical Superintendent Dr Asif Qadir Mir.

The family also intercepted Health Secretary Punjab Najam Shah who was on an official visit for reviewing health departments and their anti-dengue arrangements, and brought the matter into his notice.

The secretary reprimanded RMC Principal Prof Dr Mohammad Umar, ordered an inquiry into the matter and demanded a report within 48 hours.

Hafsa Bibi, 22, was brought to BBH complaining of high blood pressure five days ago and was admitted to the ICU. Doctors declared her dead on Monday and removed her from the ventilator. However, Hafsa’s mother later found a pulse, after which the family started protesting against the doctors, who were forced to leave the ICU.

During the fight, the windows of the ICU were also broken. Hafsa was later put on the ventilator again and is said to be out of danger.

When asked BBH Medical Superintendent Dr Mir said the matter was a misunderstanding and that during CPR, the women’s family had mistakenly heard that she had died.

He said the patient had recently undergone cardiac surgery, had come complaining of high blood pressure and had been on a ventilator for four days.

Dr Mir said an inquiry had been launched and a committee of senior doctors will record statements of doctors and paramedical staff.

He added that Hafsa’s mother had alleged that the condition of the patient was deteriorating and that the on duty doctor had been late.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2016