Tortured teenage housemaid shifted to ICU

LAHORE: The condition of the teenage domestic helper who was subjected to torture and domestic violence in Islamabad suddenly worsened early Monday morning at the Lahore General Hospital

Rizwana was taken to Lahore General Hospital in critical condition on July 24. However, given her condition on Sunday, she was shifted to ICU.

Ameeruddin Medical College/Lahore General Hospital Principal Prof Al-Fareed Zafar reached the hospital and called an emergency meeting of the Special Medical Board.

The members conducted a thorough medical examination and tests of Rizwana. The doctors said that the next 48 hours are crucial for Rizwana’s health, and there is a fear that the girl will have to be transferred to a ventilator.

According to the doctors, the wounds are old, so the infection in the blood increased, and the complications of the disease intensified in some parts of the body.

The medical board members told the media that the girl has a lung infection, causing her difficulty in breathing. She is also facing psychological problems due to severe violence.

Sometimes her condition improves, sometimes it worsens, they said.

Prof Jodat Saleem said that Rizwana’s bronchoscopy had been completed due to lack of oxygen.

She had an infection in one lung and blood clots in the other. He said that the saturation was decreasing due to infection and clots. She has been diagnosed with sepsis.

He said that the cause of sepsis is a blood infection that affects the whole body.

Prof Zafar said that the girl was brought to LGH in a very critical condition, where doctors are trying hard day and night to save her life, and in this regard, a special medical board was also formed.

The treatment is being monitored, tests are being done daily, and the victim is getting the best medical facilities.

Zafar said that the caretaker Punjab health minister, Prof Dr Javed Akram, is a renowned physician guiding him regarding the girl’s treatment.

A cardiologist has also been roped in to monitor her heart rate.

Prof Zafar also met the victim girl’s family and assured them that no effort would be spared for the girl’s recovery. He also inquired about the previous history of the patient from the family.

The family expressed fear that Rizwana was given some poisonous substance during the domestic violence.

On the disclosure of the family, the medical board sent Rizwana’s test to a laboratory to detect the poisonous material so that the real facts are revealed.

Also read: Housemaid torture case: PM assures justice to victim