–Health minister forms committee to probe allegations
LAHORE: Shadman police has registered a rape case against unidentified employees of Services Hospital for allegedly raping a patient.
According to the first information report (FIR) filed by the 35-year-old woman, she had gone to the Services Hospital after feeling pain in her lower abdomen. She was admitted to the woman’s surgical ward-II on November 23 and taken to the operating theatre for surgery at 7:30 am the next morning after being administered with anesthesia.
She said after the surgery she was discharged the same day at 7:00 pm, but later felt pain and started bleeding from her urinary tract. She said her sister took her to Sheikh Zayed Hospital where she was told that she had been raped.
She lodged a complaint at the Shadman police station stating that she had been raped by the hospital employees during surgery. Police registered a rape case against the employees of Services Hospital.
After the complaint, police brought the victim to the Services Hospital on Sunday morning for medico-legal formalities, the medical superintendent (MS) confirmed, adding that a four-member medical board of lady doctors was formed for the medical checkup.
The MS further said the medical board failed to find any evidence of rape. The police later obtained her samples on the request of the victim.
Prof Dr Mahmood Ayaz, head of the Health Department’s inquiry committee, called the incident a “misunderstanding,” reasoning that they have found no evidence in the initial phase.
He said that the victim’s samples have been sent to a forensic lab for further investigation.
Moreover, Health Minister Yasmeen Rashid has now taken notice of the incident and formed a probe committee into the matter.
Rashid said that if the suspects are found to be guilty then they would be taken to task as per the law.
The provincial health minister has directed the committee headed by Services Hospital Principal Dr Mehmood Ayaz to submit a report on the matter whereas the committee comprises Dr Rubeena Sohail and Professor of Forensic Medicine Dr Arif Rasheed.
