LAHORE: A highly obese person who underwent what was described as a ‘successful surgery’ for weight loss some 10 days ago passed away, unattended, during commotion at the Shalamar Hospital on Monday

Noorul Hassan of Sadiqabqad, 55, who weighed 330kg, had been put on a ventilator at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the private hospital for post-operative care after he complained of breathing problems.

A taxi driver by profession, Hassan was airlifted to the Shalamar Hospital on the direction of army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa after a team of medics led by laparoscopic surgeon Dr Muaz said that his treatment was possible through a couple of surgeries here. His death is being attributed to mismanagement on part of the hospital staff.

According to initial reports, staff fled the ICU after a protest erupted in the health facility after an expectant mother died during delivery. The protesters had alleged that she died of negligence on the part of doctors, some witnesses told the media. These sources said that irate relatives smashed windowpanes, damaged furniture and entered the ICU. The entire staff on duty reportedly vacated the facility to avoid being attacked.

Meanwhile, the condition of Noor Hassan became critical. As the situation normalised, the staff on duty rushed to the ICU where they found Hassan struggling for life without a ventilator. Doctors tried to resuscitate the patient but to no avail.

Dr Muaz, who had operated upon the patient, was not present at the hospital at the time. Later, he confirmed that Hassan had died due to unrest in the hospital’s ICU. The chaos, he said, ensued when the relatives of a female patient became violent and the staff on duty left Hassan and other patients unattended. The medic added the rider that the relatives of the female patient had not intended to cause deaths, but the situation deteriorated, and that he and his team had performed Hassan’s surgery successfully.

Dr Maaz said that he had not been present in the hospital during the unrest but had been told that “a lot of damage” had been caused. “We should not directly blame anyone,” he said, “but duty staff should have been present there under all circumstances.”

Hassan’s son told the media that he would not blame doctors for his father’s death, while a hospital spokesperson stated that the incident was being investigated and CCTV footage being obtained. He said that violence erupted, during which everyone tried to save themselves.

The Punjab Healthcare Commission took action regarding the death of Noorul Hassan, forming a three-member committee to investigate the deaths of both Hassan and the expectant mother, while the chief of army staff expressed condolences over Hassan’s death.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2019