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Medical malpractice is a scary reality in Pakistan: Ali Rehman Khan

Medical malpractice is a scary reality in Pakistan: Ali Rehman Khan

After the tragic passing of Nashwa Qaiser, celebs have called for greater accountability for medical negligence
Updated 22 Apr, 2019

The tragic passing of nine-month-old Nashwa, who was paralysed earlier this month following the alleged administration of the wrong dosage of an injection at Karachi's Darul Sehat hospital, has shaken the nation.

Her death has sparked a conversation about the unchecked prevalence of medical negligence in Pakistan and the need to implement more robust systems of care at hospitals.

Many celebrities have spoken up about the issue, including Ali Rehman Khan who calls for more accountability for medical malpractice:

Zulfi decried the state of our medical institutions:

Armeena Rana Khan said a prayer for Nashwa:

Shafaat Ali wished for an end to medical negligence:

Comments

Imtiaz Syed New York Apr 22, 2019 04:24pm
The field of medical malpractice by the lawyers is the need of time to safeguard public from careless, arrogant and greedy medical practitioners. Parents send their children to medical school just for one reason - it's money maker. The state of mind generally lacks spirit of service to humanity.
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Ahsan Gul Apr 22, 2019 04:30pm
Very tragic to see lack of medical knowledge coupled with carelessness among our doctors and staff. Government must set rules to punish financially and with jail terms. BUT these show biz people must not make points for themselves on this sad incident!
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Sabir Pakistani Apr 22, 2019 04:41pm
My wife never takes children to hospitals in Pakistan when they get sick everytime we visit Pakistan, she takes over the counter medication for kids and just give them that.
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aslam khan Apr 22, 2019 04:59pm
Medical errors 3 rd leading cause of death in USA.
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M. Saeed Apr 22, 2019 05:00pm
@Imtiaz Syed New York, medical malpractice by the lawyers?
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Khan Apr 22, 2019 05:02pm
Sad to see precious lives wasted because there is no proper systemic control on medications, untrained staff, clinical qualifications and overall hospital operations. Hospitals have turned into a supermarket of malpractice. Unless the system and its structures are not corrected such outcomes will unfortunately be expected.
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Haroon Apr 22, 2019 05:14pm
While there is no doubt that doctors escape accountability, the whole society is such that it makes it easier for doctors to escape this accountability. I recently visited Pakistan, and was shocked to learn that many a doctor don't administer basic CPR (mouth to mouth) because of the fear they would be accused by the relatives of killing the patient if the latter does not survive (it is normal for a rib/sternum to fracture during this). I wanted to train a few people and even offered to get them the standard automated defibrillator, but many a people advised me against it. I saw as variety of drugs being prescribed at a stupid pace, but general public was not willing to get normal tests done. They consider doctors as Messiahs, who would better their ailments, and a doctor who insists on proper treatment is considered not good. People generally prefer doctors who prescribe hflfca dozen drugs based on their symptoms than the ones who want to diagnose the issue.
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Dr Haroon Khan Apr 22, 2019 05:16pm
I am a Dr. myself and personally I have had similar experience a few years back , both in Lahore and Islamabad, where my father was treated in supposedly good private hospitals of Pakistan. Unless there is proper accountability such cases will be happen, but one must remember, is there accountability in any profession in Pakistan ? in real terms. Scape goating is not the answer, accountability starts at the top, then only can we see real change. It is a tragic death indeed, but only one among hundreds happening every day. We only know about it, because it happened in Karachi.
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Ahmad Apr 22, 2019 05:41pm
Innalillah wa Inna elaehe Rajeoon. It’s the system and processes that need to improve to prevent and minimize these incidents.. Knee jerk reactions and judgements will Not help and one. In a country where superme court justifies illegal land grab by powerful what expectation we have as a society for justice...
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Arsland Apr 22, 2019 05:57pm
Mistakes happen in the medical industry worldwide, all we can manage is to have checks and balances in place to minimise them. Understand this costs more and others will fall by the wayside as we can't afford professional care for all, currently , less so if costs are forced upwards.
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fairplay Apr 22, 2019 06:35pm
Medical malpractice isn't so uncommon in the USA either. Doctors carry insurance policies to cover such cases.
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Munaza Khan Apr 22, 2019 07:55pm
Terribly sad incident. However unless the root cause of the negligence is addressed such sad incidents will not stop. May be the doctor on call was exhausted beyond her abilities, they are expected to work 36 hours and more continuously. System should have multiple check and balances before medication can be given to a patient. Doctors write the orders but margin of human error is always present. A pharmacist and nurse should have checked the order before it was given to the patient. System needs to improve. Rest In Peace little angel.
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ahmed Apr 22, 2019 08:10pm
@Sabir Pakistani She is not helping PK improve. Be part of the solution. You appear educated not smart by using OTC medicines.
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Indian Apr 22, 2019 10:31pm
Imran Khan should ask for Chinese hospitals and Chinese doctors as part of CPEC. Healthcare is most important and shouldnt do politics on it.It would stop patients going to India and save foreign exchange.
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Laila Apr 23, 2019 02:35am
Oh my heart. Poor little angel. This happens more often than we may think. There is no culpability, responsibility or consequences to negligence or crminal activity. So imagine how many Nashwas we lost. Bless all the Nashwas. R.I.P.
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Pinky Apr 23, 2019 04:01am
RIP little angel Government should take strong action against this incident.being the doctor or nurse should not neglect their responsibility. Hope the government would take the reaction as soon as possible.
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Citizene Apr 23, 2019 08:52am
There is no institution where complaint can be lodged on negligence of doctors or paramedics. PMDC, PMA should be given such responsibilities.
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El Cid Apr 23, 2019 09:16am
The highest kill rate by the medical complex/establishment in the world is in the US.
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ABC Apr 23, 2019 11:33am
Nothing will happen. The doctors in Pakistan are now a Mafia. I recently attended a conference of final year medical students and they had justification for everything they do. Its better to always choose a doctor who hasn't completed the MBBS from Pakistan
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Laila Apr 23, 2019 08:22pm
@Sabir Pakistani Not all aiilments can be cured with over the counter medicine. Surgery, blood transfusion, organ transplant, appendicitis, bone fracture from fall or playing. These require hospitals. The problem is corruption and lack of professionalism. No medical ethics and monitoring or reprecussions when things go wrong. Even if you complain nothing comes off it. The staff are often unprofessional and remind more of friends sticking together than people who took a professional oath to help and care for people.
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