A tragic drug reaction claimed the lives of two patients in Mayo Hospital’s Chest Surgery Unit, raising concerns for 14 other patients in serious condition.
The crisis began late Sunday when staff injected over 16 patients, triggering rapid collapses. A young girl died within two hours of her 7 p.m. dose, followed by Doulat Khan, 28, from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Monday due to severe complications.
CEO Prof Haroon Hamid confirmed the deaths, noting the drug itself may not be at fault but rather a mixed solution. A three-member committee is investigating. Senior pharmacist Noor Mehar blamed staff for ignoring warnings against combining the drug with calcium gluconate and ceftriaxone, risking fatal precipitation. He cited prior Punjab and FDA alerts, calling it a “blatant error” unique to the Chest Surgery Ward.
Read: Mayo Hospital Lahore: Patient Dies from Injection Reaction
While the same antibiotic was used elsewhere in the hospital without issue, the Chest Unit’s oversight has fueled panic. With 14 patients still critical, the investigation aims to uncover why guidelines were flouted. Mayo Hospital now faces scrutiny to prevent further tragedy as families demand answers.
