Three LRH doctors removed from service for negligence

Alisha’s death

BoG reprimands two professors

PESHAWAR: Taking action on recommendations of the inquiry committee formed to probe the alleged negligence of doctors that led to the death of a transvestite, the Board of Governors (BoG) of the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) on Thursday removed three doctors from service and censured two professors, orthopedic surgeon Dr Shahabuddin Khan and Dr Aamer Ghafoor, for their negligence in dealing with the case properly.

Chairman of BoG Prof Nausherwan Burki told The News that action has been against the delinquent doctors.However, Prof Dr Muzaffaruddin Sadiq, head of surgical department, where the injured transvestite was initially shifted and the inquiry committee had mentioned that the patient wasn’t properly handled, has been exonerated of charges.

“In light of the recommendations of the inquiry committee, BoG LRH administration removed two senior registrars and returned services of a medical officer to the Health Department for further action,” a senior member of the hospital administration told The News.

The two senior registrars held responsible for their negligence and removed from services, included Dr Amir Said and Dr Liaqat, while Medical Officer Dr Ibrahim’s services were returned to the Health Department.

Also, the BoG severely censured Dr Shahabuddin Khan and Dr Aamer Ghafoor for their negligence.“Dr Shahabuddin was reprimanded for his negligence as head of Orthopedic Department. He was personally held responsible for unnecessarily shifting the injured transvestite, Alisha, to Bolton Block from his unit, where the patient died of injuries,” the official said.

According to officials, the BoG took action against Dr Aamer Ghafoor, former Medical Director, for his negligence as head of the clinical squad of the hospital.Some members of the inquiry committee, however, expressed astonishment when they came to know that Prof Muzaffaruddin Sadiq, a noted surgeon and head of Surgical Department, had been exonerated of any disciplinary action.

Pleading anonymity, one of the committee members said it was the Surgical Department where transvestite, Alisha, was initially brought and mishandled and unnecessarily referred to orthopedic ward, without even bothering to search other injuries of the patient.

“The suffering of Alisha began from surgical department. They didn’t even notice a big wound of the injured transvestite that led to blood loss and subsequently caused the death,” the committee member said.

He said they were also surprised after learning about the action taken by the BoG against Dr Liaqat as he had operated upon the patient while Dr Aamer Ghafoor was on leave and was not present even in Pakistan.

The provincial governmenthad formed a high-level committee to further probe the alleged negligence of the doctors of transvestite when another previously constituted committee didn’t fix responsibility on the doctors and health workers.

Senior surgeon Prof Dr Roohul Muqim was head of the committee, while Prof Hakim Afridi, Prof Ameer Khan, Prof Sajjad Ahmad and additional secretary health Motasim Billa were members of the committee.

After the inquiry committed submitted its report, the LRH administration sent questions to all the doctors accused in the inquiry committee and gave them proper time to explain their position.

Sources said that the BoG was satisfied with explanation from Prof Muzaffaruddin Sadiq. It exonerated him after he said that he was busy in taking interviews of doctors as Dean PGMI MTI LRH.

The previous inquiry committee formed by the LRH and provincial Health Department for investigating the alleged negligence of doctors and health workers and cause of death of transvestite was divided in recommendations and fixing responsibility. Some of them recommended another high-level probe committee, while others suggested a stern disciplinary action against senior doctors.

After receiving the inquiry committee report, the government had decided to form another committee that would comprise senior doctors of outside of LRH.Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Health Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai wanted to pursue this case as the government was under pressure from international community, human rights organisations as well as media.

Dr Sher Ali, member of the previous committee, in his note had recommended disciplinary action against senior surgeons, who he said had left the patient without conducting laparotomy.

A transvestite Alisha was brought to the LRH casualty after she was shot and injured ?by armed men around 11pm on May 22.Other transvestites and transgenders later alleged that Alisha was not properly handled by the doctors that led to his death.

Sources told The News that Alisha was first mishandled at the surgical and then in orthopedic unit of casualty.However, what irritated other colleagues of Alisha was when they were denied a private room in orthopedic unit and were told that its air-conditioner isn’t functioning.

They were sent to Bolton Block where an in-charge nurse demanded Rs5000 fee of the private room.Alisha’s colleagues demanded a VIP room and refused to pay its cost.Interestingly, the air-conditioner of the room No 15 was out of order in Bolton Block in which Alisha was admitted.

They were later provided VIP room No 21 but it was too late. Also, Alisha identified herself as an Afghan and son of Shamshad to the doctors at the casualty, saying she is 24 years old. She didn’t have her identity card when the doctors on duty demanded.

Then her colleague, Farzana gave her own ID card to admit Alisha in the hospital and told the doctors she was 32 years old. In the ID card, Farzana’s name was mentioned Riaz.However, the doctors said Farzana told them Alisha was five-year-old when she came to her from Swat.