MULTAN: The family of Haleema Rafique, a 17-year-old cricketer who committed suicide a few days ago, alleged that negligence of Nishtar Hospital doctors led to her death.

The family, however, refused to take any action against the hospital staff. Rashid Rafique, a brother of the deceased, told Dawn they had shifted Haleema who consumed acid used for toilet cleaning to Nishtar Hospital’s emergency ward without delay, where the doctors and staff administrated a drip to her and asked them to go home saying she was out of danger.

“When we asked the doctors to wash her stomach, they said they knew better than us about the treatment and the condition of the patient,” he said.

He said the family brought Haleema back home but she remained uncomfortable and her condition deteriorated after two hours.

“We immediately rushed back to the hospital but it was too late as the doctors pronounced her dead,” he said.

He said his sister was crazy about cricket and did not cast a slur on anybody.

“The DSP and the SHO of the area have contacted us and we have categorically informed them that we don’t want to take any legal action,” he said.

Nishtar Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Ashiq Malik said he would ask the director emergency to check the record and probe the matter.

A local court had issued notices on July 12 to the chief executive of a private news channel, its anchor, reporter and five cricketers including Haleema, on the complaint of Multan Cricket Club Chairman Maulvi Sultan Alam.

Haleema had been served a Rs20 million defamation notice.

Published in Dawn, July 17th , 2014