LAHORE: The Punjab Healthcare Commission has sought record of a patient who died due to alleged negligence on the part of doctors of Mayo Hospital, Lahore.

The action was taken on the complaint of deceased’s brother Muazam Khalil who told the PHC [in his complaint] that his brother Asif Khalil died due to the alleged negligence of doctors at the East Medical Ward of the Mayo Hospital.

He complained to the PHC that his brother visited the hospital for the treatment of jaundice.

Mr Khalil said his brother was leading a normal life because of initial stage of jaundice.

The doctors admitted him to the East Medical Ward on Jan 27 this year and decided nasogastric intubation to get access to the stomach for treatment.

He had visited Mayo Hospital for jaundice treatment

He said the attendants consulted some medics of other hospital showing them reports of the patient.

The doctors declared the nasogastric intubation an ‘unnecessary procedure’ at a time when the patient was taking oral diet like healthy people.

He said despite opposition by the attendants, the duty doctors conducted the procedure, passed NG into lungs instead of stomach.

Muazam Khalil said his brother’s condition got worse shortly after this ‘faulty’ procedure and he died.

On showing reservations, the doctors hurled threats at them and warned of dire consequences, he said and demanded stern action against the ‘negligent’ medics.

The PHC after initially probing the matter sought a complete official record of the patient in order to start proper investigations to fix the medics, if found negligent.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2020