LAHORE, May 2: A clash between relatives of a retired police officer and doctors at the emergency department of the Jinnah Hospital on Wednesday led to closure of the emergency for half an hour followed by strike of the doctors for two hours or so.
Delay in the treatment of young patient Kazim Ali was said to be the main cause of the clash, witnesses said.
Son of a retired police officer Kazim was shifted to Jinnah’s surgical emergency after he suffered head injuries in a road accident.
On finding Kazim lying unattended despite bleeding from the head, his relatives requested an on-duty doctor to start treatment. The doctor told the attendants that he had informed neurosurgery department to attend the patient.
When the treatment was further delayed, the attendants again asked the on-duty doctor to call the neurosurgeon. Later, both the sides exchanged hot words.
Meanwhile, other relatives of the patient reached the spot and protested absence of the neurosurgeon in the CCU. The doctors also called their colleagues from other wards and both the parties scuffled.
The witnesses said one of the attendants was carrying a weapon. The doctors overpowered the ‘armed man’ who was later identified as security guard of Minhajul Quran organisation. He too had come to the hospital to inquire after the patient. All doctors went on strike and demanded legal action against the ‘assailants.’
The Wednesday’s incident exposed security arrangements at the institution to deal with any emergency situation.
Shortly after the clash, a source said, the administration first alerted police-post within the hospital but no official reached the emergency department to maintain ‘law and order’ as the post was short of staff and the skeleton police staff posted there was found absent.
Then, the administration contacted the office of the Garden Town Circle ASP. The office staff responded that the ASP slot was vacant and the newly appointed police officer was yet to join duty.
Finally, the senior management of the institute intervened and called the Gulberg ASP who reached the hospital along with police force and normalised the situation.
Jinnah’s Medical Superintendent Dr Afzal Shaheen said the patient was shifted to the Lahore General Hospital shortly after the clash to avert major conflict.
He said the doctors who went on strike resumed their duties after negotiations with the management.
About the incident, he said the presence of an armed man in the emergency led to the clash.
Another senior admin official said an application had been filed with the Garden Town police by the security DSP of Jiannah Hospital for lodging a criminal case against the assailants. He said the administration had also informed the Lahore CCPO about the poor state of affairs regarding security arrangements at the teaching institution.