MULTAN: Nishtar Hospital in Multan has terminated the services of a doctor working as an additional house officer after a video showing him making an inappropriate gesture towards a patient’s family went viral on social media, hospital officials confirmed on Monday.
The incident occurred last week in the Accident and Emergency Department, where a patient had been brought in critical condition. In the widely circulated video, family members can be heard alleging that the patient died after doctors refused to administer a blood transfusion. When the camera turns towards the doctor, later identified as Qasim Jamal, he is seen raising his arm and showing his middle finger before walking away, as a crowd gathers in the background.
Hospital authorities said the doctor was initially suspended from duty on December 19, a day after the incident. An inquiry committee was also constituted to investigate the matter. On the same day, the administration issued a formal notification terminating his employment with immediate effect on grounds of misconduct and violation of hospital rules and professional ethics.
According to an incident report dated December 20 and submitted by the director of the Accident and Emergency Department, the patient had been admitted in a critical state and was undergoing stabilisation after receiving emergency treatment. The report stated that she was to be shifted to another ward for blood transfusion, but her condition deteriorated to the extent that transfusions were no longer feasible.
The report further said that the patient’s attendants became agitated following her death and misbehaved with the doctor and on-duty staff. It acknowledged that the doctor also acted inappropriately by making an objectionable gesture towards the attendants. The report maintained that medical treatment had been provided “properly and according to protocol”.
The doctor in question also issued a detailed statement on Dec 20 in response to the incident, saying that his reaction was merely a “symbol of protest”.https://t.co/7DMAMTd1S6
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 22, 2025
In response, the doctor issued a detailed statement denying allegations of negligence and defending his conduct. He said the patient was in a “very critical” condition and that active treatment and resuscitation efforts were made before she was declared dead. He claimed his gesture was a “symbol of protest” against what he described as repeated verbal abuse, threats and attempted physical attacks by the patient’s attendants.
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He also alleged negligence on the part of hospital security, stating that several individuals with mobile phones were allowed into the restricted emergency area, creating chaos while medical staff were treating other patients.
The doctor acknowledged being under severe mental stress at the time but argued that his action did not amount to abuse or physical misconduct. He requested reinstatement, stating that his suspension and subsequent termination were carried out without a fair investigation and would affect the completion of his medical training.
Hospital authorities have not commented further on the matter following the issuance of the termination notification.
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