Punjab govt cracks down on hospital staff after viral 'dual surgery' video sparks outrage

LAHORE: The Punjab government on Saturday took swift disciplinary action against senior medical staff at Lady Willingdon Hospital, suspending the medical superintendent and head of the gynaecology department over what it termed “serious negligence in duties” following a viral video that triggered widespread public outrage.

The controversial video, widely circulated on social media, appeared to show doctors conducting Caesarean section procedures on two patients simultaneously in the same operating theatre, separated only by a curtain. A voice in the background of the footage suggested that a “competition was underway,” raising serious concerns about professional conduct and patient safety.

In response, the health authorities launched an immediate inquiry. A day earlier, the Punjab health department had already suspended the training of four postgraduate lady doctors involved in the incident, declaring their actions a “serious breach of medical ethics” and seeking explanations from the department’s leadership.

Expanding the disciplinary action, the government on Saturday suspended five postgraduate residents and two charge nurses, directing them to report to the department’s headquarters. Additionally, a woman medical officer was repatriated to the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department over alleged misconduct linked to the viral footage.

According to the official statement, Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique stressed that violations of hospital standard operating procedures (SOPs) would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Secretary of Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Azmat Mahmood also condemned the incident, calling it a blatant violation of medical ethics, an affront to patient dignity, and a breach of professional standards.

Separate notifications issued by the department cited “inefficiency and misconduct” as grounds for the suspensions, ordering all concerned officials to report back to the department. Even non-medical staff, including two charge nurses and a hospital cook, were suspended as part of the widening probe.

The incident has sparked a broader debate over oversight, training standards, and ethical compliance in public sector hospitals, with authorities vowing strict accountability to prevent such lapses in the future.