Islamabad: Shifa International Hospitals Limited has strongly denied allegations circulated on social media and echoed by some media outlets claiming that the hospital retained a deceased patient’s body on a ventilator for seven days and charged the family for treatment.
The hospital categorically rejected these claims, calling them false, baseless, and devoid of any factual foundation.
The controversy began after a Member of the National Assembly made the accusation during a sub-committee meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health.
The claim, though not backed by documented evidence or verification, was picked up by certain news agencies and segments of the media, sparking widespread outrage on social media platforms. Shifa International became the target of criticism and condemnation, with many questioning the hospital’s ethical standards and practices.
However, several medical professionals, hospital administrators, and informed citizens criticized the spread of unverified information, describing the allegation as implausible and damaging to healthcare institutions that adhere to clinical and legal protocols.
They pointed out that no hospital can legally or medically keep a deceased body on a ventilator for an extended period and charge for services posthumously without facing regulatory consequences.
In a formal statement issued on July 7, Shifa International Hospitals Limited addressed the growing misinformation, stating unequivocally that the stories being circulated were misleading and deplorable.
“These claims are entirely false and without any factual foundation,” said a spokesperson for the hospital.
The spokesperson urged members of the media to uphold journalistic ethics and verify information before disseminating such serious allegations.
“We urge members of the media to exercise due diligence and uphold their ethical and professional responsibility to verify information before dissemination,” the spokesperson said, expressing disappointment that no one had contacted the hospital for its version prior to publishing the allegations.
The hospital reiterated its commitment to ethical and compassionate patient care in full compliance with applicable laws and medical codes of conduct.
“Shifa International Hospitals Limited remains steadfastly committed to delivering ethical, compassionate, and professional care,” the statement emphasized.
While the hospital welcomed genuine queries or clarifications from media persons, it cautioned against the misuse of public forums and digital platforms to circulate unverified and potentially defamatory claims, warning that such actions erode public trust in critical healthcare institutions.
The clarification is being seen by many in the medical community as an important step in restoring the reputation of a hospital that has served patients for decades.
Senior physicians and healthcare leaders have called on both lawmakers and media to act responsibly when raising concerns about health institutions and to avoid drawing hasty conclusions without proper investigation.
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