ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) disciplinary committee has penalised two doctors and suggested shutting down Quaid-i-Azam International Hospital’s (QIH) emergency services in a case regarding the death of a patient due to negligence.

According to council documents available with Dawn, the council permanently cancelled the registration of neurologist Dr Talha Waqar and suspended the registration of medical officer Dr Natasha after hearing a complaint lodged by Tariq Mehmood.

The committee also suggested that the Punjab Healthcare Commission shut down the hospital’s emergency services.

Disciplinary committee was hearing case regarding death of patient due to negligence by doctors, hospital

On July 29, 2017, the complainant Mr Mehmood brought his 17-year-old son Mohammad Bilal to the QIH emergency at around 8pm because he had a high fever, he told Dawn.

He said he had first taken him to a local hospital, but a doctor there suggested that he take his son to a hospital that had a ventilator.

“I reached the QIH emergency with my son at around 8pm and asked the staff to treat my son. I was able to recognise the medicines because I run a medical store; the staff put my son on a drip to bring down his fever but in the span of half an hour they also gave him four injections of [tranquilisers]. Then they shifted him to the high dependency unit and said the neurologist, Dr Talha Waqar, would get there soon,” he said.

“There was only medical officer Dr Natasha, and Dr Waqar did not come despite asking a number of times. Meanwhile, the staff gave my son another injection so he would sleep because he was shouting in pain. My son died the next day at 11am, but the neurologist time did not appear until then.

“I later filed a case with the PMDC, and there I saw the doctor, who said he was not available and the alternate doctor was not present,” he said.

Council member Ali Raza said Dr Waqar cannot practice in Pakistan following the cancellation of his registration.

“During hearings it was revealed that the doctor had not signed any contract with the hospital. Moreover, he did not bother to register his specialisation, which was completed in the [United States], with the PMDC. According to the rules, doctors can not mention their qualifications without registering them with the council. The medical officer will be able to practice after six months,” he added.

In response to a question, he said that the hearings also revealed that the hospital does not have the facilities to treat emergency patients, but because the council can only take action against doctors it has suggested that the Punjab Healthcare Commission shut down its emergency services.

He said the commission may hold its own inquiry, and the doctors can file appeals with the tribal in 30 days as well.

He added that the tribunal, which is run by the council, does not have a head but one will be appointed soon.

QIH CEO Dr Saukat Ali Bangash claimed that the council’s decision came from the mala fide intentions of doctors on the council who wanted to close the hospital’s emergency services so another hospital can do business.

“Dr Waqar has studied from the US and there are just a few doctors of his calibre in Pakistan. I fear that he will return to the US if he would not be allowed to practice here. Moreover, as I have not received the decision of the council, the emergency would not be shut down at all,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2019