A doctor working as an extra house officer at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital has been dismissed following his misbehavior with a patient’s family, which was captured in a video that has been widely circulated on social media, officials confirmed on Monday.
The video shows the doctor making inappropriate and obscene gestures towards the relatives of the deceased female patient after they staged a protest at the hospital ward, taken on December 18. The hospital authorities initially suspended the doctor before dismissing him from service.
On Thursday evening, Shamim Bibi, a resident of New Tariqabad, was brought to the emergency department of Nishtar Hospital in a critical condition. After an initial examination, doctors stated that she was suffering from chronic liver disease, a condition that can progress to liver failure. Doctors recommended further tests and the administration of a blood transfusion.
Nishtar Hospital spokesperson Rao Naushad said the patient was suffering from severe liver and stomach disease. He explained that in such cases only supportive care can be provided, adding that the patient had been given all available medical facilities.
During her transfer from the emergency department to the medical ward, the patient died. Her relatives then protested, alleging that blood had not been given or administered on time and accused the medical staff on duty of inappropriate behavior and excessive use of mobile phones.
The relatives claimed that the patient did not receive blood immediately, which they said led to her death. They added that she had previously been taken to the emergency room but was sent back.
The deceased’s son, Bahram, said his mother had stomach-related problems, but no one listened to them at the emergency room. He alleged that the staff repeatedly told them to take her to a private hospital and that after much difficulty she was admitted. He claimed that despite arranging blood, it was not given on time and they were told that it was shift time and the next shift would handle it.
Read: Medical negligence suspected in the patient’s death
During the protest, a video surfaced showing the additional house officer Dr. Qasim of Medical Ward No. 11 making obscene gestures towards the patient’s relatives further escalating the tension.
Hospital sources said the patient had been brought to the emergency room in an extremely critical condition and was being examined by senior doctors who issued the necessary instructions. After her death, however, the situation worsened after the recording of videos from relatives and the inappropriate behavior of the house officer.
The hospital’s spokesperson confirmed that Vice-Chancellor of Nishtar Medical University, Professor Dr. Mehnaz Khakwani, had dismissed additional house officer Dr. Qasim from duty and ordered a formal investigation.
A two-member investigation committee has been formed, headed by emergency director Dr. Zahid, with DMS Labor Room Dr. Asma Khar as the other member. The committee reviews all aspects of the incident. Statements of the dismissed house officer, security guards, DMS and other senior doctors on duty have been recorded and CCTV footage has also been collected.
The hospital spokesman said further strict action would be taken against those responsible in light of the investigation report.
Medical circles have also expressed concern over the behavior of the house officer, stressing that proper training of newly qualified doctors before ward postings is crucial but often neglected.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mehnaz Khakwani had initially ordered an immediate suspension of the house officer and constituted an inquiry committee. The Special Secretary for Health, South Punjab, Amanullah also sought a report on the matter from the Medical Superintendent of Nishtar Hospital.
On Saturday, the Vice-Chancellor formally issued a notice dismissing Dr. Qasim from the service stating that from the date of notification he would no longer serve as House Officer at Nishtar Hospital.
Sources said the hospital administration contacted the victim’s family to express regret over the incident and assured them of full cooperation and asked them to report any further administrative complaints so that action could be taken against other staff if necessary.
The dismissed house officer has submitted a seven-page written response to the inquiry committee.
In his statement to the administration, the dismissed house officer said that the deceased patient was treated by two senior doctors and that he himself was not responsible for her treatment. He appointed PGR Dr Majid and Dr Saleem as the doctors who managed the case.
He claimed that after the death of the patient, the relatives started shouting and creating a commotion while the two senior doctors disappeared despite being supposed to comfort the family. He said he was simultaneously treating four other patients in the emergency room, including performing a gastric lavage on one patient and inserting a nasogastric tube in another.
Read more: Protest breaks out over alleged medical negligence
He alleged that a large number of male relatives entered the female medical ward and that a young man grabbed his left arm, verbally abused him and tried to assault him. He said other patients’ relatives intervened to stop the attackers. He added that he reported the situation to the DMS but the security personnel were absent. Fearing violence, he said he later locked himself in the DMS office.
Dr. Addressing the gesture he made, Qasim stated that it was a natural reaction after sustained verbal abuse, death threats and physical harassment and it was not meant to offend anyone. He said the meaning of the gesture could be verified online and that he had expressed his protest in silence without using abusive language or violence.
He also questioned whether it was appropriate for a large number of men to enter the women’s medical ward, hurl abuse and record videos, and asked where the security personnel were, despite his complaints to the DMS.
Doctors and social media users said the obscene gesture could not be justified under any circumstances, while also calling for action against other emergency workers found negligent.
Sources said that Dr. A graduate of Nishtar Medical College, Qasim was considered an extremely bright student, having achieved distinction in physiology, pathology (general and special) and ENT. But during his housework, he reportedly faced problems that made him freeze his housework and undergo treatment. Sources also claimed that he had previously suffered from mental health issues and had previously been suspended from his home job due to absenteeism.
The report from the inquiry committee, which was set up on the direction of the rector, is still awaited.
