By M.Ilyas Mullakhel
Peshawar — The Lady Reading Hospital Medical Teaching Institution (LRH/MTI), Peshawar, has issued a formal show-cause notice to a senior on-duty doctor over an alleged lapse in protocol and professional conduct during the visit of the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the hospital’s Emergency Department.
According to an official letter issued by the Associate Dean of Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME), the incident took place on November 25, 2025, when the Chief Minister visited the hospital to inquire after victims injured in a terrorist attack at the Federal Constabulary headquarters.The hospital administration claimed that the doctor concerned failed to respond appropriately during the high profile visit.
The notice alleges that the doctor remained seated during the interaction, did not formally introduce themselves to the Chief Minister, and failed to brief him on the medical condition and treatment of the injured patients. Hospital authorities described this as a serious lapse in protocol and coordination, stating that the conduct did not meet the standards expected from an on-duty medical officer at a major tertiary care hospital.
The doctor has been directed to submit a written explanation within three days, with the administration warning that failure to provide a satisfactory response may lead to disciplinary action under the hospital’s rules. Copies of the notice were also forwarded to the Head of the General Surgery Unit and the Secretary to the Hospital Director for record and information.
However, the move has sparked criticism within medical and professional circles, who argue that issuing a show-cause notice for not extending, protocol is both legally questionable and ethically inappropriate. Critics maintain that during emergencies and terrorist-related incidents, a doctor’s primary responsibility is patient care, not ceremonial protocol or official formalities.
Medical professionals further point out that visits by senior government officials during emergency situations often accompanied by photo sessions can disrupt hospital workflows, adversely affect the treatment of ordinary patients, and severely hinder the performance of doctors and medical staff. They warn that excessive focus on protocol and administrative formalities can negatively impact hospital management and compromise the overall quality of emergency care.
Lady Reading Hospital, one of the largest public sector hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, frequently comes under public scrutiny due to its central role in handling emergency cases linked to security incidents in the provincial capital. The latest episode underscores the growing tension between administrative expectations and medical ethics during high-profile official visits.
Hospital officials have so far refrained from making public comments, stating that the matter remains an internal disciplinary issue pending the doctor’s response.
