What my mother’s death in Lahore taught me about patient care
I never imagined that taking my mother to hospital would end with her death. On 22 January 2026, my 83-year-old mother was admitted to a private hospital in Lahore after suffering burns in a household accident. We took her there because we believed she would receive appropriate medical treatment, careful monitoring and compassionate care. Like most families, we placed our trust in the doctors,…
My mother, an 83-year-old woman, was admitted to a private hospital in Lahore on January 22, 2026, following a household accident that caused burns. We expected appropriate medical treatment, monitoring, and compassionate care, trusting the medical professionals involved. Unfortunately, she did not survive, and I observed the care she received during her 26-day hospital stay.
As her daughter and carer, I had concerns about her pain management plan, antibiotics, and overall treatment. Despite these concerns, I did not feel that my questions were adequately addressed or explained. Antibiotics led to complications such as painful mouth blisters, low hemoglobin, and difficulties eating. I questioned the use of Colistin, an antibiotic with potential kidney risks, and observed deteriorating kidney function.
My mother's breathing and blood pressure became unstable, and she died within 20 minutes of being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. Communication with the medical team was challenging, as I felt limited in raising concerns and felt that questioning authority was seen as challenging their authority. The family's burden included organizing blood transfusions, paying for frequent blood tests, and dealing with delayed or unavailable lab vouchers.
My experience highlights the need for better communication, concern handling, and patient-centered care in hospital settings.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
