Karachi woman gave birth in JPMC washroom, inquiry report confirms

Last week, videos went viral on social media claiming that a woman gave birth to a child in a JPMC washroom. However, the hospital administration denied the allegations. Later, a three-member inquiry committee was formed to investigate the childbirth incident. The committee has found serious lapses in patient care, revealing that a pregnant woman was not provided with a timely medical assessment, was denied an ultrasound examination and was merely advised to walk around despite being in labour. According to the committee’s report, no ultrasound examination was carried out, and the patient was advised to walk instead of being properly assessed and monitored. The committee noted that the failure to promptly evaluate her condition ultimately led to the woman delivering her baby in a hospital washroom. Officials said the inquiry report submitted to the executive director of JPMC also found that the consultant and resident medical officer (RMO) on duty were absent from their assigned responsibilities. The report concluded that the affected woman reached the hospital’s gynaecology ward at around 9:30pm on the night of the incident but did not receive the standard evaluation expected for a patient presenting with labour pains. The washroom childbirth case sparked widespread public concern after a video related to the incident went viral on social media last week, triggering criticism of conditions and patient care standards at one of Sindh’s largest public-sector hospitals.