Mayo Hospital drug reaction: Charge nurse among three relieved of duties, served notices

LAHORE:The Specialised Healthcare & Medical Education Department (SHC&MED) has held three nurses responsible for adverse drug reactions leading to two causalities and endangering lives of 16 patients in Chest Surgical Ward, Mayo Hospital, Lahore.

In the light of report/recommendations of the inquiry committee, the Special Secretary SHC&MED served show-cause notices on two Charge Nurses, Mst Nazia Hassan and Mst Hafiza Saima Seher, on the basis of sufficient grounds to proceed against them for misconduct under Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006. The two nurses along with another Charge Nurse, Ms Sunaina Khalid, were relieved of their duties and were transferred, on administrative grounds and directed to report back to SHC&MED with immediate effect. The charge that constituted misconduct comprised that the two nurses were found “negligent, committed malpractices while administering of powdered injections (reconstitution, dilution & route of administration) and bad dispensing practices of powdered injections (Ceftriaxone) on your part that led to drug reaction in 16 patients on March 9, 2025 in Chest Surgical Ward."

The SHC&MED notice says the charge stands proved and it is not necessary to hold an inquiry into the matter. However, it called upon them to show cause in writing within seven days of the receipt of the notice as to why one or more of the penalties, as prescribed in Section 4 of the Act, may not be imposed upon them. “If reply to the show-cause notice is not received within the stipulated period, ex-parte decision shall be taken against them,” says the notice. Meanwhile, while expressing grief over tragic deaths due to drug reaction in Mayo Hospital, PYNF Punjab has condemned Punjab govt for holding nurses responsible for the mishap in a bid to save the 'real culprit' within pharmaceutical company. The nurses demanded holding judicial inquiry to ascertain the facts. While pharmaceutical companies are being protected, the blunders of others cannot be put on the nurses. They said that nurses have no role in the supply of the medicines in hospitals and a false propaganda is being done without any evidence or forensic report to defame the nursing profession.