KARACHI, May 8: The Sindh High Court issued notices on Thursday to a hospital, its administrator and a gynaecologist and directed them to file written comments on Aug 7 on a suit for damages claiming Rs45.88 million under the provisions of the Fatal Accidents Act of 1885.

Plaintiff Muhammad Afsar Khan filed the suit in the High Court pertaining to the death of his wife Ms Kishwar Afsar who died on June 4, 2002 allegedly due to negligence by the defendants.

Nasir Maqsood, advocate, submitted that the plaintiff’s wife was admitted to Dr Ghafoor Medical Centre with nine months’ pregnancy on May 29, 2002. She was taken to an operation theatre under the supervision of a lady doctor. She gave birth to a girl and both mother and child were all right. After the delivery, they were shifted to the ward.

In the ward, the plaintiff found blood oozing from his wife’s body and the entire bandage was stained with blood.

He informed the hospital staff of his wife’s condition, but they could not control her condition. After two and a half hours, the plaintiff was asked to arrange blood as his wife needed blood transfusion because she had suffered excessive loss of blood.

Sensing danger in view of the woman’s critical condition and to avoid responsibility, the hospital administration referred her to another hospital with a reference letter informing the latter of her condition.

Doctors at that hospital said there was little chances of the woman’s survival as she had become very anaemic. She died on June 4, 2002 due to cardio-pulmonary arrest as mentioned in her death certificate.

It was submitted that the defendants failed to take reasonable care during and after the surgery.

The plaintiff has claimed Rs45.88 million as damages against the defendants, jointly and severally.

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