Punjab Suspends Hospital Staff After C-Section Video Leak Sparks Ethics Probe
By Sadia Khan :
The Punjab government has suspended several senior medical and administrative staff at a Lahore hospital after a video allegedly recorded during a Caesarean section operation was circulated online, officials said.
The disciplinary action follows a complaint received through the Chief Minister’s Complaint Cell and forms part of an expanding investigation into the breach of patient privacy.
Authorities confirmed that the latest suspensions include the hospital’s Medical Superintendent, the head of a department, a woman medical officer, five postgraduate resident doctors, two nurses and another member of the hospital staff. All have been directed to report to their respective departments while the inquiry continues.
Earlier, four female doctors had already been suspended in connection with the incident, suggesting that the investigation is widening.
According to official sources, the video was allegedly recorded during a C-section procedure and later shared, an act described by authorities as a serious violation of patient confidentiality and medical ethics.
The incident occurred at Lady Willingdon Hospital in Lahore, where the footage is believed to have been filmed before appearing on social media.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered immediate action after the matter came to light, with officials saying the government maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards behaviour that undermines patient dignity or professional standards in healthcare facilities.
Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said violations of hospital standard operating procedures would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Azmat Mahmood, Secretary of Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education, also condemned the incident, calling it a “blatant violation” of medical ethics and an affront to patient dignity.
Separate notifications issued by the department cited “inefficiency and misconduct” as the basis for the suspensions. The measures also extended to non-medical staff, including two charge nurses and a hospital cook, as part of the ongoing investigation.
Earlier in the probe, a show-cause notice had been issued to the head of the gynaecology unit where the procedure took place.
Officials said recording videos during medical procedures constitutes a breach of medical ethics and compromises patient privacy. Authorities have sought explanations from the staff involved regarding alleged negligence and failure to follow clinical responsibilities.
The Punjab government said it remained committed to ensuring accountability and protecting patient rights across healthcare institutions in the province.
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