A doctor working as an additional house officer at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital has been dismissed following his misbehaviour with a patient’s family, which was captured in a video that has been circulated widely on social media, officials confirmed on Monday.
The video shows the doctor making inappropriate and obscene gestures towards the relatives of the deceased female patient after they staged a protest in the hospital ward, taken on December 18. Hospital authorities initially suspended the doctor before dismissing him from service.
Thursday evening, Shamim Bibi, a resident of New Tariqabad, was brought to the emergency department of Nishtar Hospital in a critical condition. Following an initial examination, doctors stated that she was suffering from chronic liver disease, a condition that can progress to liver failure. Doctors advised further tests and the administration of a blood transfusion.
Nishtar Hospital spokesperson Rao Naushad said the patient had been suffering from severe liver and stomach disease. He explained that in such cases, only supportive treatment can be provided, adding that the patient had been given all available medical facilities.
During her transfer from the emergency department to the medical ward, the patient died. Her relatives then protested, alleging that blood had not been provided or administered in time and accusing the on-duty medical staff of inappropriate behaviour and excessive use of mobile phones.
The relatives claimed that the patient was not given blood immediately, which they said led to her death. They added that she had previously been brought to the emergency department but was sent back.
The deceased’s son, Bahram, said his mother had stomach-related issues, but no one listened to them in the emergency department. He alleged that staff repeatedly told them to take her to a private hospital and that, after much difficulty, she was admitted. He claimed that despite arranging blood, it was not administered in time, and they were told that it was shift change time and the next shift would handle it.
Read: Medical negligence suspected in patient’s death
During the protest, a video emerged showing Additional House Officer Dr Qasim from Medical Ward No.11 making obscene gestures towards the patient’s relatives, further escalating tensions.
Hospital sources said the patient had been brought to the emergency department in an extremely critical condition and was examined by senior doctors, who issued necessary instructions. However, after her death, the situation worsened following the recording of videos by relatives and the house officer’s inappropriate conduct.
The hospital spokesperson confirmed that Nishtar Medical University Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr Mehnaz Khakwani, had dismissed Additional House Officer Dr Qasim from service and ordered a formal inquiry.
A two-member inquiry committee has been formed, headed by Emergency Director Dr Zahid, with DMS Labour Room Dr Asma Khar as the second member. The committee is reviewing all aspects of the incident. Statements from the dismissed house officer, security guards, the DMS and other senior doctors on duty have been recorded, and CCTV footage has also been collected.
The hospital spokesperson said that further strict action would be taken against those found responsible in light of the inquiry report.
Medical circles have also expressed concern over the house officer’s behaviour, stressing that proper training for newly graduated doctors before ward postings is essential but often neglected.
Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mehnaz Khakwani had initially ordered the immediate suspension of the house officer and constituted an inquiry committee. The Special Secretary for Health, South Punjab, Amanullah, also sought a report on the matter from the Medical Superintendent of Nishtar Hospital.
On Saturday, the vice chancellor formally issued a notification dismissing Dr Qasim from service, stating that from the date of notification, he would no longer serve as a house officer at Nishtar Hospital.
Sources said the hospital administration contacted the victim’s family to express regret over the incident and assured them of full cooperation, asking them to report any additional administrative complaints so action could be taken against other staff if necessary.
The dismissed house officer has submitted a seven-page written response to the inquiry committee.
In his statement to the administration, the dismissed house officer said the deceased patient was being treated by two senior doctors and that he himself was not responsible for her treatment. He named PGR Dr Majid and Dr Saleem as the doctors managing the case.
He claimed that after the patient’s death, the relatives began shouting and creating a disturbance, while the two senior doctors disappeared despite needing to console the family. He said he was simultaneously treating four other patients in the emergency department, including performing a gastric wash on one patient and inserting a nasogastric tube in another.
Read more: Protest erupts over alleged medical negligence
He alleged that a large number of male relatives entered the female medical ward, and that one young man grabbed his left arm, verbally abused him and attempted to assault him. He said other patients’ relatives intervened to stop the attackers. He added that he reported the situation to the DMS, but the security staff were absent. Fearing violence, he said he later locked himself in the DMS office.
Dr Qasim, addressing the gesture he made, stated that it was a natural reaction after continuous verbal abuse, death threats and physical harassment, and was not intended to insult anyone. He said the meaning of the gesture could be verified online and that he had expressed his protest silently without using abusive language or violence.
He also questioned whether it was appropriate for a large number of men to enter the female medical ward, hurl abuse and record videos, and asked where the security staff were, despite his complaints to the DMS.
Medical professionals and social media users said the obscene gesture could not be justified under any circumstances, while also calling for action against any other emergency staff found negligent.
Sources said Dr Qasim was a graduate of Nishtar Medical College and was considered a highly capable student, having achieved distinction marks in physiology, pathology (general and special) and ENT. However, during his house job, he reportedly faced issues that led him to freeze his house job and undergo treatment. Sources also claimed that he had previously suffered from psychological issues and had earlier been suspended from his house job due to absenteeism.
The report of the inquiry committee formed on the vice chancellor’s instructions is still awaited.
