Karachi: A three member inquiry committee investigating the childbirth incident in a washroom at Karachi’s Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) has found serious lapses in patient care, revealing that a pregnant woman was not provided timely medical assessment, was denied an ultrasound examination and was merely advised to walk despite being in labour, while the consultant and Resident Medical Officer (RMO) on duty were absent from their assigned responsibilities.
The inquiry report, submitted to the Executive Director of JPMC, concluded that the affected woman, Nadia, reached the hospital’s gynecology ward at around 9:30pm on the night of the incident but did not receive the standard evaluation expected for a patient presenting with labour pains.
According to the report, no ultrasound examination was carried out and the patient was advised to walk instead of being properly assessed and monitored. The committee noted that the failure to promptly evaluate her condition ultimately led to the woman delivering her baby in a hospital washroom.
Investigators further found that the consultant and the Resident Medical Officer assigned to duty at the time were not present in their designated areas when the patient required medical attention. The report described their absence as a major lapse that contributed to the incident.
The committee also raised concerns over the presence of male individuals within the gynecology ward premises, observing that such access was inconsistent with patient privacy requirements and established hospital protocols.
In addition, the inquiry highlighted weaknesses in the hospital’s security arrangements and questioned the performance of security personnel on duty. The report noted that inadequate monitoring and poor oversight reflected broader administrative shortcomings that warranted corrective measures.
Officials said the committee has recommended that the RMO held responsible for negligence be referred to the Sindh Health Department for departmental proceedings. It has also proposed extending the training period of the postgraduate doctors on duty by three months as a disciplinary measure aimed at improving professional accountability and clinical supervision.
During the course of the investigation, the committee recorded statements from Nadia, her husband Akram, their newborn son and the woman who assisted in the delivery inside the washroom. Statements from doctors, nursing staff and other hospital personnel were also obtained, while CCTV footage and hospital records were reviewed as part of the inquiry.
Akram told the committee that hospital authorities had acknowledged shortcomings in the handling of his wife’s case. According to him, the administration offered medical treatment for both mother and child following the incident, but the family declined further care at JPMC and chose to seek treatment at a private hospital with financial assistance from relatives.
He said the family had named the baby “Azad” and confirmed that both mother and child were in good health. However, he urged authorities to take action against those responsible so that similar incidents do not occur in the future.
The washroom childbirth case sparked widespread public concern after a video related to the incident went viral on social media, triggering criticism of conditions and patient care standards at one of Sindh’s largest public sector hospitals.
Following the public outcry, the Sindh Health Department and JPMC administration constituted a three member inquiry committee to determine the circumstances that led to the incident and identify any negligence on the part of hospital staff.
The committee’s findings are now expected to form the basis for disciplinary proceedings and administrative reforms aimed at preventing a recurrence of such incidents in public healthcare facilities.
Ends