The Young Doctors Association of Punjab has demanded a fresh investigation into the death of a man brought to Jinnah Hospital with a snake bite, after an earlier inquiry held some doctors and pharmacists culpable for the lack of the appropriate anti-venom serum at the hospital.
Addressing a press conference at Allama Iqbal College on Monday, YDA officials said that the inquiry was one-sided as the senior registrar had not been heard by the inquiry committee.
Jaffar, 30, died at Jinnah Hospital’s Bu Ali Sena Intensive Care Unit on September 9. The health secretary set up an inquiry committee, headed by the Mayo Hospital medical superintendent, which submitted its findings on September 12.
Based on the inquiry report, the chief minister suspended Medical Superintendent Dr Ijaz Ahmad Sheikh, Pharmacy Director Dr Mahmood Salahuddin, Floor Pharmacist Nazia Kausar, Emergency Pharmacist Mustajab Ali and ICU head Nasreen Easter on September 21.
The chief minister also transferred Medical Unit III head Prof Nasir Mahmood Malik and Senior Registrar Dr Saima Nauman and ordered an inquiry against them under the Punjab Employees’ Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act.
Speaking on Monday, YDA Punjab President Dr Javaid Aheer said that the penalty against Dr Nauman were unfair. “There were many points which needed to be considered in the inquiry but they were missed.
The accused doctors were not even heard. The senior registrar held responsible in the inquiry had visited the patient and done her job. She had nothing to do with the death of the patient but has been removed,” said Dr Aheer.
“Those responsible should be brought to justice, but the initiating of an inquiry against doctors under the PEEDA Act without even listening to them is not justice. A fresh inquiry should be held into the incident and all the aspects should be covered,” he said.
He said that a meeting of the YDA General Council had been called to discuss the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2013.