THE Covid pandemic has left me with the irreparable loss of my mother, and horrific memories of her death owing to hospital’s negligence continue to haunt me even today. She had contracted Covid and was taken to the local government hospital in Multan on March 28 due to several complications.

She was advised to be placed on oxygen support and that was done immediately. However, she kept complaining of being uncomfortable even under the oxygen mask. Her agony continued for a good six hours when it was discovered to everyone’s horror that the staff member who had fixed the oxygen mask had actually forgotten to connect the air pressure with the oxygen line. This was criminal negligence, but the entire medical staff preferred to adopt and unethical and harsh attitude on the matter.

My mother’s condition deteriorated so badly that we had to transfer her to the intensive care unit (ICU) the next day. Even though an ICU bed was available, the doctor in charge asked us to wait till the visit of the senior doctor was over. More than two hours passed as we waited, but my mother could not wait any further and passed away without ICU support. I am still having nightmares, wondering if it was my mistake to take her to the government hospital.

I have lost faith in public hospitals. It is high time the government paid attention to the standard of care being provided at state-run hospitals.

Samad Raza
Multan

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2021