PIMS Patient Dies After Wrong Organ Biopsy

News Desk 

Islamabad: A shocking case of alleged medical negligence has emerged at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital, where a woman admitted for lung treatment reportedly died after doctors mistakenly performed a biopsy on her liver instead of her lungs.

The patient, Abida Parveen, a resident of Dadyal in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, was admitted to PIMS’ Pulmonology Department on December 9 for evaluation of a chronic lung condition. 

Doctors, led by Head of Pulmonology Department Dr Muhammad Israr, had decided a lung biopsy was necessary to determine the nature of her illness.

The procedure, conducted on December 16, ended tragically when Abida passed away just hours later. The shocking error came to light only after tissue samples were sent to a private laboratory, which confirmed that the biopsy was performed on the wrong organ—the liver.

The patient’s family has filed a formal complaint with the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA), holding Dr Israr, Dr Haroon Ashraf Khan, and other staff present during the procedure directly responsible for the fatal mistake. 

The complaint is supported by medical records, hospital slips, procedure forms, and private laboratory reports.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Abida’s son, Kashif Butt, demanded swift and transparent investigations by federal authorities, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal. 

He urged that those responsible be held accountable, stressing that no family should suffer due to negligence in government hospitals.

The case has reignited concerns over patient safety and accountability in Pakistan’s public healthcare system. Experts say incidents like these point to systemic issues, including inadequate supervision, procedural lapses, and lack of strict regulatory oversight.

Officials from the IHRA have reportedly initiated an inquiry into the incident to determine the extent of negligence and any possible criminal liability. PIMS Hospital has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, and repeated attempts to contact hospital spokesperson Dr. Mubashir Daha were unsuccessful.