Hospital management describes the condition as Lazarus Syndrome and has submitted a sealed investigation report to the Secretary of Health.
RAWALPINDI:
A newborn baby, pronounced dead by Holy Family Hospital and released to his parents with an official death certificate, remained alive for more than 12 hours on and off a ventilator before passing away. The Punjab Health Care Commission took notice and launched an investigation, while the hospital termed the incident as Lazarus Syndrome.
According to details, premature twins – a boy and a girl – were born to Rubina at Izzat Shah Hospital in Lala Rukh, Wah Cantt, and were later shifted to Holy Family Hospital by ambulance. On December 31, 2025, doctors admitted the little girl while pronouncing the boy dead and issuing an official death certificate, which included written instructions to release the body to the family.
However, when the baby was transferred to the ambulance, a jolt caused the infant to start breathing again.
Oxygen was immediately administered and the parents returned to Holy Family Hospital with the baby alive and the death certificate.
The baby was placed on a ventilator and breathing was restored.
The hospital management termed this illness as Lazarus Syndrome and submitted a sealed investigation report to the Secretary of Health.
After surviving more than 12 hours, the baby finally died and the body was returned to his parents. The twin sister remains under treatment at Holy Family Hospital.
The Punjab Health Care Commission formed an inquiry committee headed by deputy director Humayun Anwar and sought the medical records of Holy Family Hospital and Izzat Shah Hospital.
