ISLAMABAD: In order to ensure that vulnerable patients do not have to go through sexual abuse in the future, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) established a committee which will devise a standard operating procedure (SOP) and guidelines for vulnerable patients, including those who are unconscious, semiconscious and paralysed.

The committee will be submitting the guidelines in two weeks and they will be shared with hospitals across the country.

On April 11, the family of a 20-year-old paralysed patient said she had been raped by an employee of Pims. The prime minister took notice of the issue and within 24 hours a suspect was arrested and a three member inquiry committee headed by Dr Abid Farooqi had submitted its report.

Though the committee could not find witnesses, they concluded that there was no reason for the patient to level false allegations.

Talking to Dawn, Pims Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram said that the incident was an eye opener and that a committee headed by him will now be devising an SOP for vulnerable patients.

“We will decide if attendants can stay with the patient, how to keep a check over staff, and if employees should be offered counselling,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2016