LAHORE: A high-level inquiry committee has been constituted at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital to research allegations of medical negligence after a affected person reportedly underwent surgical procedure with out obligatory HIV screening and later examined optimistic for the virus.
The incident has triggered concern amongst healthcare employees over potential publicity and lapses in infection-control protocols.
In line with an order issued by the hospital’s medical superintendent, a four-member inquiry committee will examine the incident and submit its findings inside two days.
Dr. Riwad Noor, a member of the inquiry committee and in-charge of infectious illnesses, instructed Daybreak that they might conduct the inquiry on Friday and submit the report on Saturday.
He stated the scenario was below management and that preventive measures had been taken to disinfect all surgical devices.
Hospital sources stated the surgical procedure was carried out on Tuesday, Could 19, within the hospital’s working theatre. A junior physician had reportedly flagged throughout pre-operative file verification that the affected person’s HIV screening report was lacking. Nevertheless, the objection was allegedly not addressed, and the process went forward.
Ward in-charge Dr Masood Hiraj instructed Daybreak that he grew to become conscious of the problem on Wednesday morning and instantly knowledgeable the medical superintendent in addition to the in-charge of infectious illnesses to make sure pressing preventive measures.
He claimed that the working theater and all surgical devices had been, nevertheless, cleaned early on Wednesday morning at round 8:30am.
Dr Hiraj additional clarified that the affected person had beforehand undergone two surgical procedures on the facility, throughout which HIV screening was carried out and the outcomes had been damaging.
Nevertheless, he stated that in the newest process, junior employees proceeded with out the required screening report. The affected person was later confirmed to be HIV-positive, triggering alarm amongst hospital employees.
In the meantime, a Nishtar Hospital spokesperson stated that disinfection of kit in all working theaters was carried out on time in accordance with customary protocols.
He added that preliminary investigations revealed that the HIV-positive affected person was the final to endure surgical procedure within the related working theatre.
The spokesperson additionally confirmed that the affected person’s HIV take a look at carried out at Nishtar Hospital was optimistic.
Below customary working procedures (SOPs), such a case is handled as a suspected HIV case, the spokesperson stated, including that the affected person’s samples had been despatched to Lahore for PCR testing to additional verify the prognosis.
Medical specialists stress that strict adherence to pre-surgical screening and common infection-control protocols is crucial to guard healthcare employees and sufferers.
They warning that bypassing such procedures can pose severe occupational well being dangers and lift moral considerations.
In November 2024, a kidney-failure affected person died whereas 30 others contracted HIV/AIDs infections throughout dialysis therapy on the identical hospital.
The biggest public sector hospital in south Punjab got here into the limelight over allegations of gross negligence when sufferers had been reportedly positioned on dialysis machines reserved for HIV-positive sufferers.
