Lady doctor of private hospital tests positive

Islamabad:A lady doctor working with a private hospital in Islamabad has sent out waves of concern among those fighting against the ‘coronavirus’ pandemic as there are apprehensions that she might have infected hundreds of patients as well as her own colleagues in the hospital.

It was learnt that the lady doctor ‘Z’, working as an ‘eye specialist’ in the hospital, returned from abroad on March 15, 2020 and continued to attend her office in the hospital, checking and treating patients from March 16 till March 22 when eventually she was tested positive for ‘coronavirus’.

Her ‘infection positive’ test was confirmed by the National Institute of Health (NIH) on March 22 and, according to sources, the second test conducted today (March 30) also turned out to be positive.

The hospital sources told this correspondent that the doctor treated hundreds of patients during from 15 March to 22 March when she was declared victim of coronavirus. When contacted the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Hamza Shafqaat, confirmed that they have investigated the case thoroughly and claimed that she quarantined herself at home after her return from abroad.

“Her two family members/contacts have been tested negative. We are also following her. Her second test again turned out positive she has been on quarantine again,” the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad said.

However, some doctors when contacted for their comment on the situation said that it was extremely irresponsible on part of the lady doctor herself as well as on part of the hospital administration who allowed her to continue working and interacting with patient and her colleagues in the hospital.

“They may trace the patients she had checked and treated during all these days as well as some colleagues and staff who had remained in close contact with the lady doctor, all of whom are likely to have been infected already.

“But where those patients and other persons who have been in close contact with her had been visiting and whom they have been meeting and might have infected them as well could be anybody’s guess. This was a criminal negligence on part of both, the doctor as well as the hospital administration in the prevailing circumstances,” the healthcare officials said while commenting on this particular case.