After Paras Hospital Tragedy, Doctors Warn Against ‘Witch-Hunt’ Without Scientific Evaluation

Convener News Desk

Srinagar, May 27: Doctors suspended over the recent death of a young patient at Paras Hospital Srinagar have broken their silence, questioning the fairness and competence of the inquiry initiated by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Srinagar.

According to the order issued by the CMO Srinagar, eight  medical professionals and staff have been barred from practice, both within Paras Hospital and elsewhere in the UT including Dr. Sheikh Zahoor Ahmad (Surgeon), Dr. Shah Naveed (Assistant), Dr. Zahid and team (Anesthetist), Dr. Syed Dawood (Anesthetist), Dr. Khawar (Anesthetist), OT Technician concerned, In-charge ICU and Nurse Insha.

The suspension orders were issued by the CMO Srinagar following the death of Waseem Ahmad Pathan, who reportedly died after developing complications post-surgery. The incident triggered protests from family members and locals, leading to public outrage and calls for action against the hospital staff.

Following the development several senior doctors including Kashmiri doctors based in other countries have come to the support of the doctor questioning the probe by a junior doctor who isn’t aware about the oncology.

According to several senior doctors, the officers leading the inquiry are general health service officials with no expertise in cancer surgery and postoperative deaths.

“This is a highly specialised field where complications, including mortality, are known risks. Investigations into such outcomes must be carried out by qualified surgical oncologists or senior professors of surgery,” said a UK-based surgeon familiar with the case.

“Suspending a surgeon without expert review risks unjustly damaging a professional’s career and could discourage doctors from handling high-risk cases,” they added.

Talking to Kashmir Convener, several doctors said they were being unfairly targeted without being given a chance to present their side. “Medical negligence, if alleged, must be determined by a panel of senior specialists with relevant clinical experience. Instead, we are being judged by officials who lack the qualifications to evaluate intricate surgical or anesthetic decisions,” they said

Doctors said the patient, initially discharged in stable condition following cancer surgery, was readmitted a week later with delayed post-operative bleeding and could not be revived despite a re-operation.

The incident has sparked public outrage, fuelled by viral videos on social media alleging medical negligence. In response, Secretary Health Dr. Abid Rashid directed the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Srinagar, to constitute an inquiry committee to probe the matter.

Dr. Zahoor was part of the pioneering team that established the Department of Surgical Oncology at SKIMS in 2011, under the leadership of Dr. Altaf Gauhar Haji.

The team, which also included Dr. Azhar and Dr. Wahid Mir, significantly advanced oncology services in the valley. Notably, they introduced the Cancer Surgery Outreach Programme, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at decentralising cancer care by performing surgeries in district hospitals using local infrastructure and visiting specialist teams.

Doctors said this programme, backed by then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, dramatically improved access to cancer treatment in Kashmir and reduced the burden on tertiary care centres. “The department went on to operate on thousands of cancer patients—a milestone in public healthcare delivery in the Valley”.

Despite these achievements, the team reportedly faced growing opposition from what many within the fraternity describe as the “private practice lobby” within SKIMS.

Over time, due to alleged lack of administrative support, the entire team was gradually edged out. While Dr. Haji returned to the UK, Dr. Zahoor and Dr. Azhar continued their commitment to cancer care in the private sector, eventually joining Paras Hospital.

Now, with Dr. Zahoor under investigation, the medical community warns that unless the inquiry is fair, scientific, and guided by experts, it could undermine the very foundation of oncology care in Jammu & Kashmir.

“This is not just about one surgeon,” said a former SKIMS faculty member. “It’s about the future of specialised medical care in Kashmir. If experts are vilified without due process, we risk losing the limited talent we have”.

Senior doctors are calling on the government to ensure the inquiry is led by experienced surgical oncologists—preferably from institutions like AIIMS—and insist that a post-mortem examination be conducted to ascertain clinical facts.

As public pressure mounts, the medical fraternity has appealed to the Chief Minister and Health Minister to ensure transparency, fairness, and expert oversight in the ongoing investigation, balancing both patient safety and the sanctity of professional medical practice.