RAHIM YAR KHAN: Another HIV positive patient of the surgical ward of the Shaikh Zayed Medical College Hospital (SZMCH) was operated upon allegedly without enforcing infection management protocols, showing gross negligence on the part of the hospital management that could pose risks to other patients.

According to SZMCH sources, a patient, Ghulam Murtaza of Khanpur, came to the emergency department with complaints of abdominal distension (intestinal obstruction) on Oct 18.

His blood samples were sent to the pathology laboratory in which it was disclosed that he was HIV positive but the HIV result was “pending”.

Later, laparotomy was done the same day at 10:30pm in operating theatre II and the procedure was completed at 12:10am on Oct 19, according to the hospital record.

After the surgery of Murtaza, the next surgery was started after a gap of only 20 minutes without following the protocols of patients of contagious diseases which required the operating theatre to remain closed for two to three hours for sterilisation and fumigation.

The register shows that the surgery on the next patient, Nazim Hussain, was done at 12:30am while Murtaza was shifted to the surgical unit.

HIV patient undergoes surgeries without protocols; MS denies negligence

On Oct 23, due to some complications, Murtaza was again shifted to operating theatre IV for laparotomy, allegedly without fulfilling the post-surgery protocols for an HIV positive patient.

He remained under treatment and was yet again shifted to the operating theatre of the SZMCH Phase I where earlier surgery was reopened, the sources said.

He was discharged on Dec 5 but was brought to the hospital again on Dec 11 for treatment.

According to some doctors, an HIV positive patient who was operated upon in three different operating theatres could lead to contamination and spread of HIV.

When this matter came into the knowledge of the high-ups of the SZMCH, attempts were made to tamper with the record at different levels.

A meeting of the hospital management committee, under the chair of principal Prof Dr Salim Laghari, was held on Dec 14, 2024 in which the agenda was HIV prevention and treatment.

Speaking to Dawn, MS Dr Rao denied the report of flouting of HIV protocols, saying all precautionary measures were adopted after surgery of Murtaza, including theatre sterilisation and ultraviolet radiation.

He said Murtaza’s surgery ended at 12:30am on Oct 19 in operating theatre II and the theatre remained closed for two hours while the next surgery in it was done at 3:30am.

Immediate surgery after Murtaza was done at 1:50am but it was done in the operating theatre III. He said the same patient again came for treatment on Oct 23and after surgery in operating theatre II, he was shifted to the ward at 5:25pm.

The next surgery in the same operating theatre was done at 10:10pm after observing HIV protocols, i.e, sterilisation and ultraviolet radiation.

“It is worth mentioning that the emergency has inbuilt ultraviolet radiation rods which are used after every surgery.”

Dr Rao said that “HIV positive and other infections patients are treated and operated upon in routine and the hospital authorities (doctors) don’t and can’t deny provision of emergency and routine services to anybody”.

SZMC Principal Prof Dr Salim Laghari told this correspondent that the pathological reports of patients with HIV positive were kept pending due to stigma attached with the virus.

He said there were many other social and societal pressures about HIV. However, all departments concerned involved in the treatment of HIV positive patients were informed about the term “pending result”.

After recent problems, it was decided that all the results of pathological reports, including contagious diseases, would clearly be disclosed, Laghari and added that SZMCH MS Dr Amjad Ali Rao would investigate the whole matter of Murtaza.

It is worth mentioning that an inquiry launched by Deputy Commissioner Khuram Pervez had held MS Rao, former MS Dr Agha Touheed, Additional MS Dr Imran Bashir, Nephrology Department head Dr Abid Hussain and staff nurse Kauser responsible for negligence in an earlier case regarding mishandling of HIV positive patients at the hospital.

The inquiry had sought action against the MS and others under PEEDA Act.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2024