Attendants assault JPMC staff, doctors over patient's death, alleging negligence

The intensive care unit (ICU) of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) turned into a battleground after a patient with a critical breathing problem died allegedly due to the unavailability of medical facilities.

The CCTV recording showed that the death of 17-year-old Nisar sparked an altercation between hospital staff and the attendants. Follwoing which, doctors intervened but they were also assaulted by the deceased's family members. 

The attendants alleged that the hospital failed to provide proper treatment to the patient Nisar, who was suffering from respiratory problems. 

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However, the hospital administration claimed that the deceased had a sepsis infection, and he was brought to the hospital in a critical condition. 

They maintained that the patient was treated well, but he could not survive despite being given the best possible care.

Following the patient’s death, the family held a protest outside the Saddar police station alongside the body, demanding action against the hospital.

The demonstrators claimed that the doctor recommended the patient to the ICU, but the staff did not shift him despite the availability of beds. 

The refusal to admid the patient into ICU caused heated arguments between attendants and staff. 

Dr Shiva Ram, who was allegedly attacked, urged the police to provide safety to him and his colleagues. 

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He explained that there were only nine beds available in the ICU, of which seven were occupied while two were reserved for gynaecology patients.

Attendants were informed about the situation and they were advised to shift patients somewhere else, he added.

However, he claimed that despite being aware of the situation, they assaulted the staff. 

He pointed out that the lack of hospital beds was the administration's fault, not the doctors. 

He added that only seven out of the 30 beds in the surgical ward were occupied.

The police have launched an investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, the Young Doctors Association (YDA) condemned the incident and announced boycott of outpatient department (OPD) services.

They criticised the practice of recommending patients to departments without verifying bed availability.