Family claims 'medical negligence' caused patient's death, AKUH vows probe

E-Paper | October 18, 2026

Family claims 'medical negligence' caused patient's death, AKUH vows probe

Dawn.com Published January 27, 2017

A case of alleged medical negligence was reported at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi on Thursday, when attendants claimed that their patient had died after being administered wrong medical treatment by a trainee doctor.

The issue surfaced on Friday after a video went viral on social media in which the son of the deceased patient is seen complaining about the alleged negligence of the AKU hospital staff which reportedly resulted in the death of his father.

Following the alleged negligence, the hospital administration was compelled to issue a statement in which it expressed condolences with the bereaved family.

However, the hospital claimed that the family had resorted to violent behaviour towards the hospital staff and administration.

The statement released by the hospital further said that the family gave “little consideration to the other very sick patients and their families also in the hospital during this time”.

Moreover, the AKU hospital management has said that it will investigate the incidence of alleged medical negligence.

Pakistan

Digging in Karachi for Red Line damages gas pipeline, disrupts supply

One in three adults in Pakistan lives with psychological disorder: study

Sindh govt to amend witness protection law 13 years after enactment, Sindh High Court told

POLITICS4mONEY

Jan 27, 2017 09:33pm

Its very unfortunate that average person does not get the much needed medical attention. There is urgent need to review the medical emergency process and come up with recommendations for improvements.

Recommend 0

Hasan

Jan 27, 2017 09:38pm

AKU is full of money making jerk doctors who are least bothered about the patients. Unfortunately a common man has no rights in Pakistan. I had a common spine surgery at AKU by a renouned neurosurgeon who left a hole in my spinal chord membrane and I ended up being unable to stand or sit for more than half an hour.

Recommend 0

layman

Jan 27, 2017 09:45pm

The AKUH is often found careless to patient care.There are numerous cases of post operation deaths,when patient needs every minute care be it in ICU or else. The name of this hospital is big,but performance even worse than government hospitals,and their charges are more than foreign hospitals.This hospital has marketing department too,which evaluate the patient credit report,and extract money through fake bills accordingly. Karachiites should think twice before admitting their loved one,to this purely commercial hospital under the garb of foundation label.

Recommend 0

fahd

Jan 27, 2017 09:43pm

That's why every young doctor after graduation tries to run away to developed countries where there are laws for the doctors and patients. yesterday we had a demonstration of our capabilities in a cricket field. today a demo of health sector and the camera "terrorism" of the public. about justice and politics we see a drama daily.

Recommend 0

Life

Jan 27, 2017 09:46pm

If the deceased patient's son has protested silently, AKUH would not bother even to write a condolence letter yet vow to investigate the negligence.

Recommend 0

Abdullah

Jan 27, 2017 09:49pm

The review of the case should be by an independent authority and not the biased hospital.

Recommend 0

saleem

Jan 27, 2017 09:56pm

The best way to go is to have a legal case and that all what should be done.

Recommend 0

RAK

Jan 27, 2017 10:11pm

Intolerance at its height. The behavior of the family must be highly condemned.

Recommend 0

oncoman

Jan 27, 2017 10:17pm

A lawless society. Medical negligence is not handled in media, social media or by police. It is handled in civil courts or peer review.

Recommend 0

Amir- CANADA

Jan 27, 2017 10:40pm

There are so many complaints about AGHA KHAN Hospital for negligence and unprofessional treatment. AKU hospital is just MONEY MAKING MACHINE period.

Recommend 0

Nasir Khan

Jan 27, 2017 11:02pm

Could you blame the patients family if they see Their world being destroyed in front of them. Pathetic AKU absolutely pathetic. Fix your issues.

Recommend 0

Paggrri Sambhal

Jan 27, 2017 11:06pm

It has become norm to fix & grill the duty doctor for the death in a hospital.This trend is very very dangerous and very unfortunate.

Recommend 0

Abdul Qadeer Khan

Jan 27, 2017 11:04pm

Government should nationalize this hospital and handover administration to a chinese company. Only this way we can ensure that this hospital meets the exacting standards demanded by our people and to bring this hospital at par with all the excellent government run hospitals.

Recommend 0

Abbas

Jan 27, 2017 11:21pm

Consultants leave patients on mercy of trainees even in very serious surgeries. A trainee Doctor appearing in FCPS final exam marked on left side of my head for surgery, whereas, my head surgery was for right side. I was awake so I noticed, otherwise they would have opened my wrong side of head. That's in Neurosurgery, what to talk about other.

Recommend 0

Ameer

Jan 27, 2017 11:22pm

Please let the doctors do their job, you are hurdling the staff to provide treatment to your father and other patients. Sorry for your loss but and we all understand your loss. but this is not theway to act. if you had no faith in this hospital you have many choices. I am 1005 sure whenever you will need any treatment you will be in AKUH. So support them to get better result. Ask any professional for 2nd opinion. Any way it is unfortunate situation.

Recommend 0

M.Sethi

Jan 27, 2017 11:28pm

It is beyond comprehension ,why in AKU hospital emergency unit, inexperienced trainee/interns without a senior doctor are allowed to treat a patient with serious complaints ?

Recommend 0

Jayagor

Jan 27, 2017 11:35pm

I hope that you would not let the story die and investigate if the complaint is genuine or if it is only an emotional outburst. You owe it to your Karachi based readership.

Recommend 0

hakim

Jan 27, 2017 11:55pm

In this case the attendee should be punished. There credentials should be cancelled and should not be allowed to practice for life. AKUH should come clean. Some trainees are like half cocked guns, problem is they don't know what they don't know and behave as if they know it all. If this was an intern (house job) they should not be allowed to practice independently.

Recommend 0

Sanam Moghul

Jan 28, 2017 12:17am

I do understand and respect a young son's emotions and attachment to his father's life but he and his family need some kind of counseling from our society and doctors to overcome the current sad situation. I don't see any issue or any thing wrong by posting a recent Medical graduate in ICU, in all countries, it is normal pratice_ Fresh Medical Graduates/Doctors perform duties in ICU under the supervision of experienced/senior doctors.

Recommend 0

Hopeful

Jan 28, 2017 12:18am

Good excuses AKUH. What would the Chairman of AKUH do if his immediate family member had died due to improper treatment? He would also be infuriated.

Recommend 0

Hopeful

Jan 28, 2017 12:23am

International hospitals also make mistakes and are sued for millions of dollars. This family should also do the same.

Recommend 0

Jamal

Jan 28, 2017 12:42am

Not a new thing at AKU or other local hospitals. But since AKU is supposed to be one of the best people expect it to be better than other hospitals. People pay their hard earned money at AKU and even the specialists have internee trainers or whatever they call it...I believe its necessary for their training but they do most of the investigation and then the specialists just come and without listening the entire history from patient just close the case. They are quite busy with the patient load but its the lives of people and AKU should do something about it seriously.

Recommend 0

ali

Jan 28, 2017 12:39am

AKU charges arm and leg for treatment. There should no excuses negligence.They are very strict in collecting their bills to the extent that they would not even release the dead body until all bills are paid.

Recommend 0

MAsoud

Jan 28, 2017 12:52am

Blaming patient and ther relatives for negligence by hospital staff member is not im good taste. FIR should recorded againt the trainee doctor taking life of a patient.

Recommend 0

Sufi

Jan 28, 2017 01:29am

In last one year more than 30 patients are died due to negligence and lack of skilled staff and grave mismanagement at higher adminitration. There are internal inquiries as well as law suits against the the institution at this time. I met a young lady who told me that her mother was uncaunsious due to brain hammerage after the operation and staff put her in icu and didnt let us meet, after five hrs she was dead without any followup; they did not call the neuro surgen even once during all this time. People are dying after knee replacement on the bed. Overall, the technological advantage the institution had due to skilled doctors and nurses trained in foreign countries are leaving due to erratic and unprofessional new management. This managwment don't have basic knowledge about healthcare and treating the institution like their business, no value to human life but money. Poor people, they will never growup. Sorry AKU thats what i can say and share your pain!!!

Recommend 0

Uncle_Sam

Jan 28, 2017 01:33am

This nation doesn't deserve doctors. They come to the hospital with a pre-meditated mind that their patient will be mistreated. Height of imbecility!

Recommend 0

Warrior

Jan 28, 2017 01:57am

Nothing new at AKU. Our perfectly healthy mother died there last year when they brought her immune system to 0 for treatment and sent her home to recover instead of keeping her in ICU until she recovers. Not only that, they had audacity to ask us 25 lakh rupees bill or else they wouldn't hand over the body. Rough times. AKU is FOR PROFIT ONLY.

Recommend 0

Syed

Jan 28, 2017 01:55am

You don't like the service, go somewhere else. You feel you were wronged, claim a full refund or even go to court for compensation for your great loss. File official complaint against trainee to end get career. BUT under no circumstance you are allowed to create disturbance. It's not NIPA chowrangi, its ICU!! The culprit should be heavily fined and banned from using this facility in future.

Recommend 0

SAif Zulfiqar

Jan 28, 2017 02:04am

May his soul rest in eternal peace. Ameen. This should not have happen but it is happening in many hospitals of Europe also. No doctor will kill any of his patient, but more attention is required when treating patients.

Recommend 0

MMM

Jan 28, 2017 03:05am

Unfortunately, we don't have a very good legal system so patients and their families resort t these types of protest. Whether it is medical malpractice or traffic accidents or business disputes, people resort to promitive methods, which are violent, disruptive and yields almost no results. It is a catch 22 situation.

Recommend 0

Mohammed Sattar

Jan 28, 2017 04:22am

The hospital claimed the relatives of the deceased were violent towards the hospital staff. UNBELIEVABLE. Did the hospital expect them to shower them with rose petals?

Recommend 0

jAVED

Jan 28, 2017 04:28am

How is medical negligence possible, when there has not been a single case of medical negligence in Pakistan since 1947, specially our District and Tehsil civil hospitals have a perfect record.

Recommend 0

Alba

Jan 28, 2017 04:39am

They won't get rich suing a hospital. Understand the concept of triage! An 80 year old woman is not a priority. She has had her life. Younger people and children who are critical will be saved first.

Recommend 0

Sameer

Jan 28, 2017 06:03am

This happens when you make house officers take 36 hour rotations. This happens when nepotism plays vital role in appointments. Yes, we know how House officers s and Postgradss are recruited and on what grounds. The family needs to take this negligence up. A pvt hospital without ventilators is clear indication the medical system is dead...like a civil hospital where people come to die.

Recommend 0

M. Khan

Jan 28, 2017 06:08am

I have trained and worked at AKUH 25 years ago as a medical student, and then as an an intern. AKUH is an excellent hospital of international standards. Since last 20 years I have been in USA, and worked in several hospitals of great repute. AKUH's standard in at par with many US hospitals and sometimes even better. We feel the pain of the bereaved family at there loss, however idiosyncratic reactions, and anaphylaxis are unpredictable and unforeseen. Violent behavior in a hospital at death of family member and threats to staff, nurses or doctors is not a good way of dealing with one's loss.

Recommend 0

shahram khan

Jan 28, 2017 06:20am

This is such a common practice in pakistani hospitals.

Recommend 0

Thought

Jan 28, 2017 07:00am

This is pakistan my friend, no value of human life, last week my sister were in hospital nurse prepared an injection and instead of using it she thrown it to dustin without any reason :( and you know what my family forgiven her by saying she is poor, that is what we have to learn as a nation.

Recommend 0

Omar

Jan 28, 2017 07:10am

I suspect the family did not handle the death of their father well and rather than be mature and handle death honourably they are resorting to petty hysteria and accusations. They are only making a fool of themselves and tarnishing the memory of their father.

Recommend 0

desi

Jan 28, 2017 07:34am

If AKUH negligence resulted in a death - they should not be complaining about the family getting upset. Also there should be an independent investigations & all records should be sealed & safe guarded.

Recommend 0

Ranjit Haripur

Jan 28, 2017 07:29am

As usual it will be swept under the bureaucratic rug.

Recommend 0

Sher Khan

Jan 28, 2017 08:30am

I am a doctor abroad for 15 yrs -i went back to pakistan in 2013 for a year and i can tell you 99 % of treatment is crap - you can't question a doctor sahib in pakistan as they get upset (unlike abroad where u have to explain condition and treatment to pt in detail and we call pt sir or Mr - we stand up to greet them - we smile and make them comfortable - its all part of training and is assessed in exams). In pakistan if pt dies its God will- no accountability. And even if you as a Dr want to treat pts properly you can't as the system to treat pts properly like follow up and computerised notes/investigation are not available. And i don't see any improvement in next 100 yrs-

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Jan 28, 2017 08:31am

The case should be investigated it must be reported to health ministry or pmdc who ever is the responsible body but at the same time such behaviour of the attendants is inappropriate.

Recommend 0

Brutal honesty

Jan 28, 2017 08:29am

They snatched the doctors ID card...poor girl is in big trouble now.

Recommend 0

Arif

Jan 28, 2017 08:33am

AKUH is soo powerful that it will be impossible to fight against them..

Recommend 0

ImraN Ahmad

Jan 28, 2017 09:05am

@Warrior What was a perfectly healthy lady doing in the hospital?

Recommend 0

SHAHID

Jan 28, 2017 09:12am

Making an emotionally charged video with loud accusations of negligence, snatching identification badges off a physician and claiming 40mg in the place of 4mg killed his father... This seems a little off to me. Is this gentleman a physician or perhaps a healthcare practitioner or is his medical knowledge stemming from the google search engine on his erstwhile telephone? Perhaps that physician did make a mistake and perhaps that mistake resulted in the unfortunate demise of this patient. However, the young gentleman in the video seems to be unduly distraught and perhaps his aggression stems from that. Either way it doesnt justify his behavior. What's needed here is an impartial, unemotional review of the facts by an honorable committee whose subsequent findings may form the foundations upon which due process may proceed.But first, let us grant this man the dignity and respect that is his due and let us not remember him or his memory by circulating footage of his last moments

Recommend 0

Mir

Jan 28, 2017 09:18am

This matter of medical negligence must be investigated but the other side of the story is that the patient was on oncology palliative care and admitted at AKUH for more than 7 days so it's difficult for patient to survive. Sometime families makes violence and disturbance to pressurize hospotal management so that their huge amount of bill get compensations.

Recommend 0

Azhar Khan

Jan 28, 2017 09:21am

Let me explain what happend. The patient had a stroke of the middle cerebral artery and I know as I am one of the doctors for the family who was in contact with a friend of theirs. The AKUH ER and neuro teams said to give clot buster TPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) as window period was there. The family refused after the wife who is a biology teacher thinks she knows medicine after she has been treating her own son's asthma better than many doctors but a pediatric cardiologist in reality has. The patient deteriorates on admission. In the interim the family is rude as the connections of the family to the Pak military etc. The family was violent to the other patietns, attendants and even staff. Innocent bystanding people visitign also ran. A threat was issued and Dr Sahar Fatima Rizvi's ID was taken in an unauthorized fashion; the ID is the property of AKU. Her body was touched by the boy in the video. She had only verified prior to given the medicine but he was code we know what.

Recommend 0

Z.A.

Jan 28, 2017 09:29am

@Warrior If she was perfectly healthy why bring her to the hospital?

Recommend 0

Shah

Jan 28, 2017 09:39am

This requires criminal investigation. This is common at agha kgan hospiral. They are just looting the poir people. Must stop.

Recommend 0

Azhar Khan

Jan 28, 2017 09:44am

The body of the doctor whose ID was taken being touched was not seen in the video but if you snatch someone's ID off their chest or neck, that constitutes assault and or battery, literally touching someone else's body.

Recommend 0

Rizwan

Jan 28, 2017 11:35am

Facts missing. Who did what when. basis of family's claim on Aku's negligence. Aku's rejoinder lacks mention of patient data thus raising questions n doubts. Unfortunately this is neither first nor last such case given massive expansion in hospital size, quality healthcare demand and resulting inflow of (revenue) money. Question is can these justify compromise on quality healthcare. Foundation needs to review entire healthcare delivery process n strengthen quality assurance mechanism. How a non critical patient loses his/her life after admission. Each interaction, medicines/ treatment administered on patient and decisions taken with available checks to ensure no non compliance is there, should be the starting point. Akuh should take lead in preparing such blueprint and make it a best practice for other hospitals to follow as well so as to minimize loss of future dear ones at hands of those supposed to be best in treating patients not turn them into deadbodies.

Recommend 0

Atta

Jan 28, 2017 12:31pm

@ali I totally agree with you, this has happened to one of my relative.

Recommend 0

saleem

Jan 28, 2017 01:21pm

If someone is not satisfied with the treatment at Aga khan hospital they have other options including treatment abroad. AKU is accredited with JCI which means alot for pakistanis. If the family thinks there is negligence committed by the hospital staff/doctors they can put their case in the court of law. Is it a humble way to protest and harass a female doctor or any one else?

Recommend 0

pakistani

Jan 28, 2017 02:15pm

Its high time that a 3rd party authority be constituted to investigate such happenings at AKUH. Sindh high court should take suo motto notice or the providential assembly should legislate such authority. How can the accused (in this case AKUH) themselves investigate and give judgement on such malpractices. Makes no sense.

Recommend 0

Nadar khan

Jan 28, 2017 03:02pm

My deep condolence with the deceased family and it is very difficult time for them.however,it is not the right way to become violent towards the staff.every akuh staff and hospital give hundred percent effort to save and provide good standard care.

Recommend 0

Saif Zulfiqar

Jan 28, 2017 03:19pm

The best hospital in the country, serving the nation. All top political leaders, businessmen etc are availing the facilities of this Canadinians administered hospital. Producing more nurses then any institute in the country and their qualifications are accepted thoughout the world.

Recommend 0

IMRAN hyder

Jan 28, 2017 04:39pm

@RAK how insane, if some bodys family member is murdered in front of him hiw should he react?????

Recommend 0

IMRAN hyder

Jan 28, 2017 04:42pm

@oncoman how many times have you been to a civil court yourself

Recommend 0

Usman BaLouch.

Jan 28, 2017 04:42pm

@Saif Zulfiqar, Majority of our family is living in Bath Island area and Lare involved in fishing business. Quite a few of our faimly members have been treated in Aga Khan Hospital for knee replacement surgeries, cataract surgeries etc . They were treated by very highly qualified Pakistani doctors and Canadian medical consultants. You can not discourage people for just a single human error. These things do happen in the life. Aga Khan hospital has a very best reputation in the country.

Recommend 0

IMRAN hyder

Jan 28, 2017 04:55pm

@Uncle_Sam what an idiotic comment

Recommend 0

Azhar Khan

Jan 28, 2017 05:50pm

@Rizwan The family refused Tissue Plasminogen Activator, TPA administration which is necessary in a stroke or medical terminology known as Cerebrovascular Accident, CVA. He was not critical on admission but beame critical as the entire territory supplied by the MCA was gone. You have more than 30% of your brain gone either you will have mortality i.e. die or morbidity i.e. survive with defecits and need repeated hospital admissions. I don't think you know anything about medicine. So the patient had to decompensate on admission from the ER as the family refused TPA admission. There was no other course and ask any neurology professor from here to the US what happens to patients who refuse TPA. The whole idea behind clot busting therapy is to impact mortality not just morbidity as modern medicine is all about letting the mortality difference drive you. When you refuse care that will make a difference in mortality, then you increase your chances of being dead. Get your own facts straight!

Recommend 0

Make Pakistan great

Jan 28, 2017 06:55pm

A hi-tech failure, indeed.

Recommend 0

Make Pakistan great

Jan 28, 2017 07:18pm

@Sher Khan The doctors in general, particularly the so called specialists, for most of the times are mechanical, impatient, edgy and do not empathize with the near ones of the patient. They get irritated at any queries the attendants may have about the patient's welfare. This attitude of the attending doctors needs a drastic change otherwise incidents of reaction by the kin of the patients of the type reported here would become the norm rather than an exception.

Recommend 0

Make Pakistan great

Jan 28, 2017 07:37pm

@Abbas Simply horrible. AKUH should pay attention to such increasing incidents of neglect and mismanagement. Otherwise this hospital would also become an ordinary locality hospital.

Recommend 0

masoud

Jan 28, 2017 08:16pm

Never expected such negligence in Agha Khan Hospital. How can a very high price hospital offer such a low patient care. The video by son of the deceased that gone viral speaks a volume of the supposedly high care facilities in agha Khan hospital. They are only interested in minting money through 1001 tests.

Recommend 0

Imran Ahmad md

Jan 28, 2017 08:14pm

Sad to hear about the death. My condolences to the family. In order to get to the bottom of this incidence the hospitals go through morbidity and mortality conference. We do not know all the details of the incidence. The doctors are unable to voice anything on the media as they are bound by the patient physician confidentiality. Harassing/ assaulting a physician is deplorable. Very common to see incidences of violence against doctors in the hospitals. In view of these incidences are we surprised that doctors do not like to work in emergency departments. Also our general population has meager understanding of diseases and treatments as I noted one the comments was " my perfectly healthy mother died in the hospital". Sometimes patients do not fully understand their disease process. Refusing timely therapy has serious consequences. Unfortunately we do see patients and families who think they know better and make poor choices. TPA has a certain time window when it is effective.

Recommend 0

masoud

Jan 28, 2017 08:24pm

What a foolish condolence letter by the management of Agha Khan Hospital. What they think they should be treated with, cake, ice cream & flower bouquet. They want fellow patient not to be disturbed fine but they did to disturb a whole family by snatching their loved one. Shame.

Recommend 0

Imran Ahmad md

Jan 28, 2017 08:23pm

@Abdul Qadeer Khan At par with the government run hospitals? I do not think you have been to civil hospital, Jinnah hospital, lyari General or Abbasid shaheed hospital. That was a really stupid comment

Recommend 0

Taha

Jan 28, 2017 08:40pm

For Aga khan it's a normal practice. They are the money making machine. They mistreated my wife normal pregnancy case and make it C-Section just to get more money.

Recommend 0

Azhar Khan

Jan 28, 2017 08:58pm

@Imran Ahmad md They refused in the window period and this is why the patient ended up. Even if he had made it alive, he would have defecits that only a rehab physician can assist with through occupational/physiotherapy/speech if they can be improved. Suffice it to say stroke patients have a deteriorating course and are bed bound needing palliative care when debilitated. It was the choice they made, not anyone else. Now they blame the doctors. Also they were being violent towards staff. So there are two sides to the story

Recommend 0

Nasir Janjua

Jan 28, 2017 09:00pm

There are two sides to the story

Recommend 0

Nasir Janjua

Jan 28, 2017 08:58pm

@masoud What about disturbing the whole ward? Apparently there are reports of attendants and staff the family disturbed people all around in the wards?

Recommend 0

dr. khan

Jan 28, 2017 11:54pm

@Hasan Dear Hasan, I wonder if you were having intense headache when sitting up or standing. You may have been given a blood patch to seal the hole. Or it resolved by itself after sometime. If thar is the case, it is not medical negligence. But rather an umcommon but natural complcation and had to do with a natural way the spinal cord membrane reacts in a few of us. Hope you are doing fine now. Take care. Allahhafiz.

Recommend 0

Khurram Ansari

Jan 30, 2017 09:37am

@RAK How a person or family can remain tolerant after losing beloved one... its about life dear ....the doctor simply killed the patient because usually doctors, specially young ones in AKUH try to spend more time in dating , chatting rather than focusing on their profession... they are not even well trained in soft skills in dealing with patients, they behave like policemen and treat patients as prisoners.

Recommend 0

Khurram Ansari

Jan 30, 2017 09:36am

@Ameer Has AKUH left any choice for the family ???

Recommend 0

Khurram Ansari

Jan 30, 2017 09:37am

@Sanam Moghul yes under the supervision of senior doctors... not independently...ok and if the act was done under the supervision of senior doctor then it becomes a severe issue and indicates extreme carelessness.

Recommend 0

Khurram Ansari

Jan 30, 2017 09:38am

@Uncle_Sam this nation does not deserve corrupt doctors......

Recommend 0

Branded Content

The IPO Pakistan has not seen yet

ABHI Microfinance Bank holds a microfinance banking license in Pakistan, branch and branchless, run with the speed and discipline of a technology company rather than a traditional branch network.

Reckitt Pakistan launches its first AI-powered long-format animation to help build healthy hygiene habits under Saaf Sehatmand Pakistan

Unveiled on Global Handwashing Day, Reckitt Pakistan’s animation adds a new chapter to the Dettol Hygiene Education Program, teaching children why washing hands with soap matters.