Breach of oath by Dr Afridi

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

THIS is apropos of Dr Shakil Afridi’s conviction. Based on evidence in the public domain, it is obvious that the doctor committed a breach of Hippocratic oath and medical malpractice by running a fake vaccination campaign that included collecting biological samples without informed consent, conducting and/or facilitating DNA testing and shipping biological materials abroad without lawful authorisation.

It is ironical that the conviction is being debated but there has been no public debate or state cognisance of the actual abuse of medical care and medical malpractice. The doctor’s conduct in this fake vaccination campaign has greatly tarnished the ethical standards of medical practice in Pakistan around the world, brought Pakistani doctors and healthcare system into disrepute and undermined the public trust in mass vaccination and public health programmes.

Will the PMDC etc take cognizance of this breach of the Hippocratic oath and medical malpractice under the relevant rules and regulations?

MOHAMMAD ALAM Sydney, Australia

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Newspaper

KE monopoly has to come to an end

Private invigilators

Tragic disparity

Abbas

Jun 01, 2012 03:33am

Since when do doctors in Pakistan pay any attention to the law or medical ethics ?!!! Pakistan has no concept of patient rights.

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malik

Jun 01, 2012 03:42am

This is just one side of the story. I dont think we will ever know the truth.

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Aziz

Jun 01, 2012 05:22am

It is not just the trust of the world in Pakistani doctors that has been dented by Dr. Afridi and foreign bosses but the fake and the fraudulent program run by him has endangered lives of Pakistani children. Reports reveal that only one of the three vaccines were administered. Therefore parents have been mislead in to believing their children are safe. This is a serious crime as it has deliberately and callously put lives at risk. The entire vaccination program in Pakistan has been been dealt a mortal blow by Shakil Afridi and his foreign paymasters.

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Aziz

Jun 01, 2012 06:42am

This is a serious and naiive statement. Like in any other country there are bad doctors in Pakistan too. Dr. Afridi is one such example who has not only indulged in a fraudulent medical scheme but has endangered the future of various vaccination programmes. There is pathetic administration of medicare facilities and therefore not even basic accountability.Again the example of Dr. Afridi comes to light as the Pakistan Medical Council has yet to react to this fake program and terminate his licence. To claim that doctors in Pakistan pay no attention to law or medical ethics is wrong. There are a very large number of highly committed doctors who are performing their jobs under very difficult conditions. During the eathquake and the floods I personally know of doctors who worked tirelessly to save lives. Therefore such sweeping generalisations should be avoided.and DAWN should be more circumspect in highlighting issues not generalisations.

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ahmed

Jun 01, 2012 08:19am

2 wrongs perhaps make either better

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Mishra

Jun 01, 2012 08:46am

Afridi is one of the few sane people in Pakistan

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Baba Sidni

Jun 01, 2012 09:38am

Shame on Dr Afridi for running a fake vaccination programme. As a doctor he should not do that. On a completely irrelevant issue, those harboring a mass murdere, should be praised, if not worshipped.

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parveez

Jun 01, 2012 11:04am

Every system in Pakistan is corrupt, nothing works, maybe here and there it might work, but overall its not working. When a man on the street see that from top to bottom in society every one is getting away with murder. This becomes a norm. So what do you expect from the ordinary person, when you see every night on tv, the politician defend their corrupt leaders.

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Naeem Zubair

Jun 01, 2012 11:42am

Dr. Afradi has committed a crime against the the national interest and medical ethical. He deserve punishment for both. PMDC should look into it to revoke his medical practice licence

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Prasad

Jun 01, 2012 12:12pm

What is his crime? That he helped to catch the worst terrorist of our times? I don't understand why Pakistanis are behaving like this on this issue ... free him and give him the highest civilian honor to recognize his contribution in making our world a safer place...

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aaa

Jun 01, 2012 01:43pm

So it is justifiable to use this as an excuse to do everything wrong. And expect noone has any sort of responsibility towards anyone.

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Manzoor Elahi

Jun 01, 2012 02:10pm

And of all the people who have breached their oaths (politicians, policemen, bankers, etc.), you found this one person to actually take action against? There are people breaching their oaths that are causing infinitely more damage than Mr/Dr. Afridi ever could. The minute politicians and extremists agree to pounce on any individual, one can safely assume that a crime is being committed.

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Waseem

Jun 01, 2012 02:16pm

He put the lives of thousands of children and medical preofessionals in the country by compronising the integrity and unpartiality of the very human campaign, he should be tried for this crime, rather than treason / high treason( differnece?)

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Bakka Lohar

Jun 01, 2012 02:27pm

In a healthy nation there is a kind of dramatic balance between the will of the people and the government, which prevents its degeneration into tyranny.” Sadly Pakistan has degenerated to an era of complete moral darkness. At present the the light at the dark end of tunnel has diminished and ordinary Pakistanis are unable to make an informed decision with regards to choosing honest and capable leaders to guide them through. Our nation is waiting for Allah to rescue them through miracles. Unless the Pakistanis learn to elect honest and hard working leaders; their fate is destined for choas.

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NORI

Jun 01, 2012 04:35pm

Can you please tell me how the entire vaccination program in Pakistan was destroyed ? Unless, you provide shelter to some rogue elements, what's there to fear from this episode ? You say that Dr.Afridi mislead parents by administering fake vaccinations to other children, which may not be true.

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Jawwad

Jun 01, 2012 05:48pm

Mishra - Problem is not what he did was right or wrong or if he is the only sane person. Problem is Pakistan is one of the 3 countries left in the world with wide spread polio. It is extremely hard to convince tribal people to get vaccinated against polio because they think it might be a western ploy to spread deceases etc. and with what Dr. Afridi did will now convince them that all vaccination drives whether polio or other kind are just a ploy to spy, spread deceases or whatever. Look at it in the context of damage it's done to legit NGO's. I hope you get the point.

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Abdul Wahab

Jun 01, 2012 08:11pm

Yes, the PMDC and the Ministry of Health should take necessary action, and they should also strengthen medical practice and medical research laws/rules to prevent any repeat of such instance in the future.

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Deb

Jun 02, 2012 01:55am

Most probably, Dr. Afridi and his family are on their way to becoming US citizens..

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