Nawaz in NAB custody ‘refused’ to be examined by govt doctor – Pakistan

LAHORE: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had refused to be examined by any doctor who was employed by the government when he was in the custody of the National Office of Responsibility (NAB), an official reveals.

"In the 10-day custody of NAB in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, Nawaz Sharif refused to be examined by any government doctor, insisting that he would only see his personal physician, Dr. Adnan Khan for that purpose," he said. the official Dawn on Tuesday.

The official said three cardiologists, each of whom remained on duty for eight hours a day, were there to take care of Mr. Sharif in the custody of the NAB, but were only allowed to control his blood pressure.

"The NAB allowed Dr. Khan to see Mr. Sharif three times – October 11, 19 and 21 – before being transferred to the Services Hospital on October 21," he said, adding that Dr. Khan had taken Mr. Sharif's blood samples and based on his medical reports (in which the Nawaz platelet count showed 16,000) he was taken to the hospital.

“Before that, Mr. Sharif did not allow any of the government doctors to obtain his blood samples for different tests. Therefore, the deterioration of their health could not be measured, ”said the official.

On Tuesday, the NAB also wrote a letter to Dr. Khan, asking him to refrain from spreading "false and incorrect" information about Sharif's stay in the custody of the bureau, as it violates the doctors' code of ethics.

The letter read: “During NAB custody since October 11, Sharif received the best medical facilities, including a modern cardiac ambulance with three doctors on call, 24-hour medical staff under the supervision of a competent doctor and a rescue ambulance. It is on the record that you (Dr. Khan) were never denied access to Mr. Sharif and met him three times, on October 11, 19 and 21, and examined him, gave him medications and took blood samples for medical exams "

The NAB said Sharif was also allowed homemade food from the first day in custody (NAB).

Sharif was taken to the hospital after Dr. Khan aroused the alarm that the former prime minister's condition was serious when his platelets fell to a critically low level. Initially, Mr. Sharif was reluctant to go to the hospital. However, he agreed to receive treatment at the Hospital of Services when his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif, who was especially called there, persuaded him.

Meanwhile, Dr. Adnan Khan has said that Nawaz Sharif's condition remains "very serious." "Mr. Sharif is critically ill and is fighting in the battle for his health and his life," he said in a tweet on Tuesday.

“(The doctors) are in a paradoxical situation of capture 22 with respect to the establishment of a definitive diagnosis. Subsequent management represents a considerable risk to their fragile and unstable health, ”he said and added pending scans / biopsies, the diagnostic dilemma still occurred from multiple complex pathologies and comorbidities. “Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and NSTEMI (heart attack) is further complicated by impaired renal functions. Poor control of blood sugar and blood pressure is taking its toll, ”said Dr. Khan.

A medical board that treats Mr. Sharif says the patient lost about eight kilograms of weight during his one-week treatment. "Simultaneously, Sharif is being treated for low platelets, heart, kidney problems and other complications," he said. His platelet count on Monday was 28,000. However, the board did not disclose the latest figure.

Posted on Dawn, October 30, 2019