KARACHI: The Additional District and Sessions Judge-XI, South Karachi, has directed the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) to refer a case of gross medical negligence against Dr. Naeem Karim Bhatti and Haleema Medical Center, Nawabshah to law enforcement agencies for appropriate legal action.
The case involves a minor boy who was admitted to the hospital for a hernia operation but was wrongly subjected to circumcision without the parents’ consent, leading to amputation of the glans penis and causing permanent physical and psychological damage.
The SHCC, after conducting a full inquiry under its complaint management process, had earlier found both the doctor and the medical center guilty of negligence, imposing fines of PKR 100,000 each. Both parties appealed the decision in court.
However, the appellate court upheld the SHCC’s findings and enhanced the fine to PKR 500,000 each, citing Section 28(1) of the Sindh Healthcare Commission Act, 2013.
In addition to the penalties, the court ordered that the case be sent to the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) for possible disciplinary action, including suspension or cancellation of Dr. Bhatti’s medical license, and to law enforcement agencies for further investigation and legal proceedings under relevant laws.
The judgment has been hailed as a significant step toward accountability and patient safety in Sindh’s healthcare system.
