A video of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was posted on social media by a Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) doctor, despite the binding ethical and legal responsibility of doctors to keep patients’ matters confidential.
Upon receiving complaints from the family and followers of the religious leader, the Pims management has suspended the doctor who uploaded the video, and apologised to Rehman. A three-person committee has also been constituted to look into the matter.
Rehman was admitted to the hospital on April 28 for stomach-related issues, and was kept under observation for several hours. He was discharged the same evening after a number of tests.
The next day, a video around 15 seconds in length, was uploaded on social media in which a doctor was seen examining Rehman.
The hospital’s staff was also warned that it was unethical and unprofessional to obtain photographs of any patient, or release them to anyone without the patient’s permission.
The incident is the second scandal to rock Pims in about three weeks. On April 9, a 20-year-old patient was allegedly raped by a hospital employee, who has since been arrested.