Issues formal notices to hospital administration and doctors allegedly involved in recording and sharing videos.
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Monday issued formal notices to the management of Lahore’s Lady Willingdon Hospital following reports of an alleged incident in which patients were filmed during surgical procedures.
The video, recorded during two separate C-section operations, appeared to show medical teams treating the procedures as a competition, with staff racing to complete surgeries faster than their colleagues. The images sparked widespread public outrage and highlighted the need for stronger oversight and accountability in public hospitals.
Following public outcry, the Punjab government suspended 11 staff members, including the medical superintendent and head of the hospital’s gynecology department.
The PMDC today issued formal notices to both the hospital administration and the doctors allegedly involved in recording and sharing the video. The council ordered that all relevant persons provide a detailed explanation, outlining their roles and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Recording patients without consent, especially in sensitive clinical settings such as operating theatres, constitutes a serious breach of professional ethics and may infringe patients’ rights and confidentiality,” the PMDC said.
The board requested a full report, including the identification of those involved in the filming and distribution of the footage, the consent protocols followed prior to filming, and any disciplinary action taken by hospital management.
Upon receipt of the responses, the PMDC will review the matter and take appropriate regulatory action, including initiating disciplinary proceedings against the doctors involved.
“The PMDC maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards violations of ethical standards. We will not tolerate any violation of the code of ethics, particularly those that undermine patient confidentiality and dignity. Strict action will be taken against those responsible, in accordance with the law,” the PMDC said.
PMDC chairman Dr Rizwan Taj said such behavior was unacceptable and would be strongly addressed in the relevant regulatory framework.
