LAHORE, March 19: Punjab Governor Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired) has ordered initiation of disciplinary action, under the Punjab Removal from Service (Special Powers) Ordinance 2000, against 11 doctors, a nurse and the workshop in charge of Nishtar Hospital, Multan.

The doctors, nurse and workshop in charge were held responsible for the death of four patients at the hospital in June last year as a result of mixing of nitrous oxide oxygen gas through defective anaesthesia machine.

The detailed inquiry into the incident was conducted by Allama Iqbal Medical College and Jinnah Hospital chief executive Prof Eice Muhammad.

In his report, Prof Eice had recommended that the tragedy occurred owing to the old, defective and highly dangerous anaesthesia machine and its poor maintenance by the hospital.

He charged doctors, nursing staff, operation theatre attendant, in charge repair workshop for their carele-ssness.

He also held professor of anaesthesia, chief executive and medical superintendent of Nishtar Medical College and Hospital responsible for their ineffective supervision.

The accused are: Professor of Anaesthesia Prof Mehdi Hasan Mumtaz, Assistant Professor of Paediatric Surgery Dr Mukhtar Husain, Senior Medical Officer Dr Muhammad Yousaf, Medical Officers Dr Fawad Khakwani, Dr Ahsanullah, Dr Bashir Ahmad Qaiserani, Dr Muhammad Ashraf (paediatric surgery), Dr Nisar Imam Zaid (ICU), WMO anaesthesia department Dr Asma Sammee, PG resident officer of orthopaedic department Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Tariq, DMS dispensary store Dr Muhammad Nasim Malik, ICU nursing sister and in charge workshop Subaidar Muhammad Yaqoob.