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| Rescuers on the rampage |
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Personnel of the 1122 Rescue Service in Lahore have staged a protest and demand the release of arrested colleagues. The matter stems from an incident that took place Sunday, after a 1122 ambulance took a patient to the Services Hospital. What happened there is a matter of dispute. Rescue personnel say doctors present at the facility were watching the 20-20 final and did not treat the patient. Doctors deny this, and claim they were roughed up by the 1122 men. The city administration has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The story has attracted wide interest in a city where the immaculate red and white 1122 ambulances and fire engines are a matter of pride. Whereas, sadly, there are still hundreds of 'crank' calls made to the service, people seem also to have learned to offer them some respect. It is now a not uncommon sight to see cars give way to ambulances at traffic lights, while many people feel relieved that there is someone to turn to in the event of an emergency. Against this backdrop, it is rather sad to see the 1122 workers on the streets.
At present, it is hard to say where the truth lies in the two versions of the current incident. But, going by logic, it is hard to say why tensions would have risen had there been no tardiness or neglect on the part of hospital staff. Their statement that the 1122 staff set upon them may indeed be true, but it is unlikely they would have done so entirely without provocation. It is also true that accounts of neglect from emergency room staff have surfaced before. We must hope the investigation will bring forth the truth and lead to action against anyone found guilty of neglect, whether it be 1122 staff or doctors. We are all proud of our cricket heroes; the 20-20 final held us all spellbound. But that should not be a cause for the neglect of duty – especially when it involves the saving of human lives.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
