LAHORE: Ecumenical
Commission for Human Development (ECHD) has strongly
condemned the death of Irfan Masih, a manual sanitary worker in Municipal
Committee, Umer Kot, who died in Civil Hospital on June 01, 2017 due to
criminal negligence by doctors and relevant staff of civil hospital.
Ecumenical Commission for Human Development expressed
their grief over the attitude of local doctors and authorities, which clearly
demonstrate discrimination meted out to low-caste Christians and Hindus. “This
is not a simple accidental death. This is a clear case of caste and
descent-based discrimination, which is yet to be criminalized in Pakistan,”
said the statement.
James Rehmat, Executive Director – ECHD added that “People
being discriminated on the basis of their professions and the refusal of
emergency medical treatment on the basis of someone being polluted must be
considered a criminal offence”.
According to reports Irfan Masih, working as sanitary
worker had fallen unconscious after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning a
manhole in scorching heat without adequate safety equipment. He was rushed to
hospital in a critical condition where the doctor on duty allegedly refused to
touch his “sludge-covered body because he was fasting. While the doctor said he could not touch
Irfan’s body, the sanitary worker was lying in a corner of the hospital,
gasping for breath. A short while later he died.
James Rehmat, Executive Director ECHD, further stated that
“We condemn this incident in the strongest manner. A society becomes
exceedingly dangerous when it disregards all norms of humanity. An innocent
precious life was lost because someone refused to perform his duty; a duty he
is under oath and obligated to perform.”
James Rehmat further demanded that the
provincial health ministry and all relevant authorities to ensure that an
impartial investigation is carried out, the medical practitioner concerned
brought to justice and his license cancelled. He had violated his Hippocratic
Oath which bound him to treat a patient under any circumstances, beyond
religion and class.
Ecumenical Commission for Human Development is independent
Christian advocacy, humanitarian aid and development agency, dedicated to support
religious minorities; where they are suffer discrimination, oppression and
persecution as a consequence of their faiths in Pakistan.
