LAHORE: Tensions spiked in the Gulab Devi Hospital when a young male patient died soon after a physical clash between his female relatives and a lady doctor in the hospital.

The attendants alleged that the doctors had suspended treatment to their critical patient in a grudge, which led to his death.

A video clip of the incident, which went viral on social media, shows a scuffle breaking out when a lady doctor rushed toward a female attendant and slapped her. Both sides reportedly exchanged slaps, punches and blows.

The police responded to the call of the hospital’s management and arrested the female attendants.

Later, the male colleagues of the lady doctor claimed that she had turned towards one of the female attendants to stop her from recording her video.

The patient, Zulfiqar (24), was brought to the hospital following a chest infection a week ago.

Gulab Devi Hospital Medical Superintendent Prof Dr Hamid Hassan said the patient was in need of critical care on a ventilator and the staff had sent a written request accordingly.

According to a statement issued in this respect, the MS said the patient was under treatment at Ameeruddin Ward and claimed that the female attendants of the patient physically assaulted the lady doctor.He denied the allegations that Zulfiqar died due to lack of provision of treatment, saying he was put on a ventilator and senior doctors were attending him even after the physical assault on a female doctor.

“The patient breathed his last due to his critical condition,” Prof Hassan said.

However, accounts of Zulfiqar’s family were different. His relatives claimed that everyone could see in the video clips of the incident who attacked first.

Talking to the media persons, they alleged that many male doctors along with security staff of the hospital entered the ward, physically tortured the female attendants and then locked them in a room.They claimed the doctors again humiliated and abused the female attendants in the room.

They also lashed out at the police for use of excessive force for arresting and sending female attendants behind the bars at a time when their patient was in need of critical care.

The hospital management refused to launch any inquiry into the alleged negligence which led to Zulfiqar’s death.

The Young Doctors Association (YDA) Punjab condemned the assault on the female doctor and demanded provision of security to the medics to prevent such incidents.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2026