Issuing formal notices to hospital administration and doctors allegedly involved in recording and sharing video
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Monday issued formal notices to the administration of Lahore’s Lady Willingdon Hospital following reports of an alleged incident in which patients were filmed during surgical procedures.
The video, which was recorded during two separate C-sections, appeared to show medical teams treating the procedures as a competition, with staff racing to complete operations faster than their colleagues. The footage sparked widespread public outrage and highlighted the need for stricter oversight and accountability in public hospitals.
Following the public outcry, the Punjab government suspended 11 employees, including the medical superintendent and the head of the hospital’s gynecology department.
The PMDC today issued formal notices to both the hospital administration and the doctors allegedly involved in recording and sharing the video. The council ordered all relevant people to provide a detailed explanation outlining their roles and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Admitting patients without consent, particularly in sensitive clinical settings such as operating theatres, constitutes a serious breach of professional ethics and may violate patient rights and confidentiality,” the PMDC said.
The council sought a comprehensive report, including the identification of those involved in filming and distributing the footage, the consent protocols followed before the recording and any disciplinary action taken by hospital management.
After receiving the responses, the PMDC will review the matter and take appropriate regulatory action, including initiating disciplinary action against the doctors involved.
“PMDC maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards violations of ethical standards. We will not tolerate any breach of the ethical rules, especially those that undermine patient confidentiality and dignity. Strict action will be taken against those responsible, in accordance with the law,” PMDC said.
PMDC President Dr. Rizwan Taj said such behavior was unacceptable and would be dealt with strictly under the relevant regulatory framework.
