KARACHI: The Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) on Thursday launched a formal investigation into the alleged death of a woman during treatment at Darul Sehat Hospital, with an inspection team seizing medical records and initiating legal proceedings to determine whether negligence occurred.
The fresh inquiry has once again put Darul Sehat Hospital under scrutiny, years after the high-profile death of nine-month-old baby Nashwa, who died in 2019 after being administered potassium chloride through rapid intravenous injection instead of proper diluted infusion, resulting in irreversible brain damage and ultimately multi-organ failure.
Medical boards and forensic findings later concluded that the infant’s death was linked to the fast intravenous administration of potassium chloride.
According to the SHCC, the investigation was initiated after the commission received a letter from the police, as the law empowers it to examine complaints involving alleged medical negligence and determine whether healthcare standards were violated.
An SHCC inspection team was scheduled to visit Darul Sehat Hospital on Wednesday to collect all relevant information, examine available evidence and take custody of the hospital’s record related to the patient’s treatment for a detailed review.
The commission said that after examining preliminary information and the hospital’s version, it would constitute a special board comprising independent experts from the relevant medical specialty to conduct a technical assessment of the case.
It said formal hearings would then be held, during which both the complainant and the hospital administration would be given an opportunity to present their respective positions. The findings of the police investigation would also be taken into consideration during the proceedings.
The SHCC maintained that decisions in such cases are made strictly on the basis of medical and technical evidence, and therefore completion of all legal and procedural requirements may take time before a final verdict is reached.
The commission said that after completion of the inquiry, its final written decision would be communicated to both parties in accordance with the law.
The latest investigation comes against the backdrop of Darul Sehat Hospital’s previous involvement in one of Pakistan’s most widely reported medical negligence cases. In April 2019, baby Nashwa suffered cardiac arrest and severe brain injury after allegedly receiving a concentrated potassium chloride injection through a direct intravenous push instead of diluted administration.
She remained under treatment for days before succumbing to her injuries, while multiple investigations were launched by the police, the SHCC and the Sindh government.
The outcome of the current SHCC inquiry will determine whether any violation of healthcare standards or professional negligence occurred in the latest case and whether regulatory action against the hospital or its staff is warranted.
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