Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, May 24: The family from Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district staged a protest on Saturday after their relative died allegedly due to medical negligence at Paras Hospital, Srinagar.
The family members claimed that 34-year-old Waseem Ahmed Pathan, a resident of Bilal Colony, Pampore, died at Paras Hospital due to negligence by the medical staff. They said Waseem, who was admitted eight days ago for treatment of an intestinal infection, passed away Saturday morning.
His relatives gathered outside the hospital premises, protesting and demanding accountability.
According to the protesting family, the hospital doctor charged Rs 2.5 lakh for treatment but failed to provide proper care, which they believe contributed to Waseem’s “untimely” death.
“Waseem had a cyst that was surgically removed a few days ago and was discharged. However, the next day, he complained of severe pain and was brought back to the hospital,” Waseem’s brother said.
He said Waseem had to undergo another surgery because, according to him, his intestine was injured during the first operation. “This is not just negligence; we believe it was murder. We want strict action against the doctor and the hospital administration,” he said.
Other protesters also called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and demanded an immediate inquiry into the matter. The family appealed to health authorities to take stringent action to ensure justice. They criticised the hospital for its repeated alleged negligence cases over the past two years.
Meanwhile, Paras Hospital administration issued a statement to KNO, saying that Waseem died due to multiple cardiac arrests, hemorrhagic shock and multi-organ failure.
A hospital official said, “We are deeply saddened to inform that Mr Waseem Ahmed Pathan, aged 36, who was under our care at Paras Hospital Srinagar, passed away. Mr Ahmed was admitted on May 15, 2025, and underwent surgery for carcinoma of the left colon.”
“Throughout his hospital stay, Mr Ahmed received comprehensive post-operative care, including physical recovery measures and mental health support. By the sixth postoperative day, he was on a full oral, fibre-rich diet, with regular bowel movements, and was fully ambulatory. Following our protocol, he was discharged in stable condition and received a follow-up call on postoperative day 7 to check on his well-being,” he said.
He added, “On the night of May 22, Mr Ahmed returned to the hospital with severe abdominal pain and shock. He suffered cardiac arrest but was successfully resuscitated. Emergency surgery revealed significant internal bleeding, and he was transferred to ICU in critical condition. Despite the efforts of our ICU and surgical teams, Mr Ahmed suffered a second cardiac arrest and passed away on May 24 due to hemorrhagic shock and multi-organ failure.”
The hospital official also said that during treatment, it was revealed that Mr Ahmed had a history of psychiatric illness and had been prescribed fluoxetine, which was discontinued. “A psychiatric consultation was also provided to support his overall recovery,” he added.
The hospital extended condolences to Waseem’s family and assured that they are in ongoing communication with them to provide support and necessary information during this difficult time.
The family and protesters continue to demand justice and accountability, calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Waseem’s death. They are urging authorities to take strict action against any negligence.
