Hospital management classifies the condition as Lazarus syndrome, presented a sealed consultation report to the Ministry of Health
RAWALPINDI:
A newborn baby, declared dead by Holy Family Hospital and released to his parents with an official death certificate, remained alive for more than 12 hours on and off a ventilator before passing away. The Punjab Healthcare Commission took notice and launched an investigation, while the hospital called the incident Lazarus syndrome.
According to details, Rubina was born premature twins, a boy and a girl, at Izzat Shah Hospital in Lala Rukh, Wah Cantt, and they were later shifted by ambulance to Holy Family Hospital. On December 31, 2025, doctors admitted the girl, declared the boy dead, and issued a formal death certificate, which included written instructions to release the body to the family.
However, when the baby was transferred to the ambulance, a jolt caused him to start breathing.
Oxygen was administered immediately and the parents returned to Holy Family Hospital with the live baby and the death certificate.
The baby was placed on a ventilator and breathing was restored.
The hospital management labeled the condition as Lazarus syndrome and submitted a sealed investigation report to the Secretary of Health.
After surviving for more than 12 hours, the baby finally died and the body was handed over to his parents. The twin sister remains under treatment at Holy Family Hospital.
The Punjab Healthcare Commission formed an inquiry committee headed by deputy director Humayun Anwar and sought medical records from both Holy Family Hospital and Izzat Shah Hospital.
