'Negligent' doctors suspended over death of Wasim's wife by AFP

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Player:

Wasim Akram

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DateLine: 11th December 2009

 

Doctors blamed for the death of Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram's wife have been suspended and had their practice licences cancelled, the health ministry announced Thursday.

 

Huma Akram, 42, died due to multiple organ failure in India on October 25 this year after she was airlifted to Chennai when her condition worsened in a hospital in Pakistan's eastern city Lahore.

 

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had ordered an inquiry after former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim complained that poor medical facilities and negligence in Pakistan led to his wife's death.

 

"The licences of 17 doctors have been cancelled over negligence in the treatment of Wasim's wife Huma," the ministry announced in a statement after a meeting of the National Assembly standing committee on health.

 

Wasim told the committee the hospital charged 16.8 million rupees (200,000 dollars) for treatment and other charges to airlift the patient.

 

Federal Health Minister Ijaz Jakhrani told reporters the investigation revealed Huma's death was due to the negligence of the doctors.

 

Wasim vowed to continue his fight to improve poor medical facilities which he believed contributed to his wife's death.

 

"I do not want any revenge because my wife cannot return," Wasim told AFP. "I want to launch a campaign against poor medical facilities and negligence so that such tragic deaths do not occur in future."

 

Wasim, who played 104 Tests and 356 one-day internationals for Pakistan, said he will announce the details soon.

 

Wasim's mentor Imran Khan, one of Pakistan's most celebrated cricketers, built a cancer hospital in Lahore after his mother's death in a similar bid to counter poor medical facilities in Pakistan.

(Article: Copyright © 2009 AFP)