DADU: A number of people, including doctors, nurses and policemen, were injured when outraged relatives of a woman went on a rampage at the female ward of Dadu District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital over her death on Tuesday.

The unruly relatives, accusing the hospital staff of negligence leading to their patient’s death, caused extensive damage to furniture, fixtures, medical machinery and equipment, instruments and other articles present in the ward.

They also clashed with a police team that had rushed to the hospital to restore order.

The trouble started when a man, Bashir Ahmed Mallah, brought his wife, Saira Mallah, to the hospital for childbirth.

Gynae patient’s relatives go on rampage in female ward, destroy property worth millions; SHO, four colleagues injured in ensuing clash

According to the doctors and nurses who attended to the case, she had already died when brought to the female ward. However, her relatives disbelieved them and accused them of showing negligence in providing immediate treatment to her, thus causing her death.

A heated argument ensued between the two side during which the woman’s relatives, who hailed from the Sonmiani village of Dadu taluka, started beating up doctors, nurses and other employees. They then went on a rampage and destroyed everything that came in their way.

According to the hospital administration, several staff members, including Dr Masood Abro, Dr Sajjad Ali and nurses Saira Jamali and Sarkash Jamali, as well as a security guard, were injured when they were attacked with clubs by the enraged relatives of the deceased woman.

The administration said that four cardio machines, four blood pressure machines and other medical equipment / instruments as well as 11 beds were extensively damaged in the rampage. It estimated the loss at over Rs10 million.

Clash with police

While the violent episode was continuing, SHO Aijaz Hassan of the A-Section police station and his team rushed to the hospital and tried to pacify the enraged people. However, they started attacking the police team and in the ensuing clash. Five policemen and as many protesters, including the SHO and a woman, were injured.

The angry protesters then proceeded to the nearby section of the Indus Highway to hold a demonstration demanding action against the hospital staff. They kept the road blocked for several hours.

Healthcare services suspended

Amid a great deal of fear and panic caused by the violent episode, the doctors, nurses and other employees stopped providing any healthcare services to patients. They gathered outside the hospital and demanded proper security and legal action against the attackers.

Speaking to them, Dr Atiq Janwary condemned the enraged people saying that they did not even try to realise that the woman had already died when she was brought to the hospital. He regretted that even female staff was beaten up by these people and the hospital’s property worth millions or rupees was destroyed.

Dr Masood Abro also seconded Dr Janwary’s statement that the woman was brought dead at the hospital, saying that as soon as the fact was conveyed to her relatives, they started attacking the staff and property.

FIR lodged

Soon after the incident, leaders of the Young Doctors Association along with Dr Atiq Janwary, Dr Masood Abro and Saddam Suhag went to the A-Section police station, where an FIR against Bashir Mallah, Atiq Mallah, Suleman Mallah and 20 unknown suspects was registered on the compliant of a DHQ Hospital employee, Shakeel Lakho.

DC orders inquiry

Bashir Mallah, speaking to his relatives at the venue of the protest demonstration, insisted that his wife died due to carelessness and negligence shown by the doctors, paramedics and other hospital staff. He said his wife was alive but in serious condition when she was taken to the hospital for childbirth. He claimed that her condition deteriorated due to the carelessness shown by the staff. He demanded action against the negligent staff.

Meanwhile Dadu Deputy Commissioner Mukhtiar Ali Abro has asked the area police for a detailed report on the entire episode.

A spokesman for the DC office said that Assistant Commissioner Samiullah Wagan visited the hospital to ascertain facts and prepare his inquiry report.

Mr Wagan also interviewed the doctors and nursing staff to gather information about the incident.

YDA leader Dr Saddam Suhag briefed the assistant commissioner about the episode.

AC Wagan promised proper security to the hospital staff and requested them to resume their duties.

The spokesman said that the DC also condoled the woman’s death with her husband and relatives and assured them of a fair probe into the matter. The DC, however, condemned violent reaction and described it as ‘unfortunate’.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2024