ISLAMABAD/KARACHI – The Interior Ministry on Monday constituted an inquiry committee that has been the mandated to ascertain the facts whether any negligence was committed on part of the doctors concerned in the treatment of late Fauzia Wahab MNA, a central leader of Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
An official handout says the inquiry has been ordered on the directives of Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik. However, the ministry did not mention the major causes behind the move.
According to the notification, the DG Health Islamabad shall head the committee with other relevant members and submit a report within two weeks.
Fauzia remained admitted in the OMI Hospital of Karachi in a critical condition for the last three weeks where she died on Sunday due to complications arising out of the successive surgeries.
According to the terms of reference (TOR) of the committee as notified by the Interior Ministry, the panel shall examine the circumstances as well conditions from the time period of Fauzia’s admission in the hospital till her death, including examination of nursing care during the treatment.
The committee will determine as to whether any professional lapses had been committed by the any of the attending doctors, surgeons, physicians and nurses. It will also ascertain the facts regarding the failure of medical treatment and why it could not be avoided.
The committee will also suggest and recommend the age of surgeons that should be deemed fit for their efficient working and the age when they should stop working. Earlier, Rehman Malik, who was in Karachi, told reporters at the residence of late PPP leader that an investigation would be carried out to ascertain the reasons behind the demise of Fauzia.
Rehman expressed condolence over the demise of Fauzia and offered fateha for the departed soul. Expressing sympathies with the family members, he said the precious loss of the PPP leader could not be recovered.
He added that senior doctors of high repute would be included in the probe process to find out the reasons behind the death of Fauzia.
It is pertinent to mention that a board comprising Prof Badar Siddiqui, Prof Tipu Sultan and Prof Tasleem Ahsan was looking after the leader of PPP, who succumbed to her three-week-long illness at a private hospital in Karachi on Sunday.