JPMC doctor seeks relief amid patient death controversy

JPMC doctor seeks relief amid patient death controversy

A senior doctor at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) has asked to step down from her responsibilities amid controversy surrounding the death of a 65-year-old patient who was shifted from the hospital’s emergency department to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) on July 28.

Dr Sanobar Sikandar, JPMC’s only senior emergency medicine specialist, submitted a request to the hospital’s Executive Director seeking relief from her duties as an assistant professor of medicine. She cited mounting professional pressure, internal interference and what she described as an unhealthy working environment.

Dr Sanobar said the hospital administration criticised her after asking her to explain the circumstances surrounding the patient’s death. She said the situation had made it increasingly difficult for her to continue managing her medical, teaching and administrative responsibilities effectively.

In her application, she highlighted what she described as a lack of professional respect in the emergency department, political interference and inappropriate conduct by some junior doctors. She said these issues had caused her severe mental stress and made it difficult to continue working under the prevailing conditions.

The Young Doctors Association (YDA) Sindh has backed Dr Sanobar and urged the JPMC administration to address the dispute immediately.

YDA Sindh Chairman Dr Mehboob Noonari said Dr Sanobar is the hospital’s only FCPS assistant professor in emergency medicine. He noted that she also serves as faculty for the FCPS programme and supervises trainee doctors.

Dr Noonari warned that her departure could seriously disrupt emergency medicine training at JPMC and may even put the FCPS programme at risk of closure.

He also alleged that the administration was pressuring Dr Sanobar to protect the doctor who was in charge of the night shift when the incident occurred. He questioned why the night-shift in-charge was being shielded and demanded that hospital authorities clarify the matter.

The YDA chairman further claimed that senior doctors had questioned Dr Sanobar over her decision to issue an explanation regarding the patient’s death, raising concerns about the handling of the case within the hospital.