I never imagined that taking my mother to hospital would end with her death.
asserted
taking → imagine → death
On 22 January 2026, my 83-year-old mother was admitted to a private hospital in Lahore after suffering burns in a household accident.
asserted
mother → admit → accident
We took her there because we believed she would receive appropriate medical treatment, careful monitoring and compassionate care.
asserted
she → take → treatment
Like most families, we placed our trust in the doctors, nurses and hospital system.
asserted
we → place → doctors
She did not survive.
asserted
She → survive → ?
I recognise that medicine is complex, that elderly patients with serious injuries can deteriorate despite the best possible treatment, and that not every death is preventable.
asserted
death → recognise → treatment
But I was with my mother throughout much of her 26-day admission and witnessed the treatment, her deterioration and the way our family struggled to communicate with the team.
asserted
family → witness → team
I share here the questions about care she received in the hope that it may help other families.
uncertain
it → share → families
In January, my mother accidentally stood too close to a gas heater and her clothes caught fire.
asserted
clothes → stand → fire
Fortunately, the fire was extinguished within approximately a minute, and she did not suffer an inhalation injury.
asserted
she → extinguish → injury
She sustained second-degree burns to her legs and was admitted to the burns unit and treated by a consultant, who headed it.
asserted
who → sustain → it
Initially, she received topical treatment, and her wounds were scrubbed and dressed daily.
asserted
wounds → receive → treatment
She would scream during some procedures and would be physically and emotionally exhausted afterwards.
asserted
She → scream → procedures
She was given opioid and non-opioid medications at different times for the pain.
asserted
She → give → pain
As her daughter and carer, I repeatedly questioned whether her pain-management plan was appropriate given her age, her condition and her changing medical status.
asserted
plan → question → age
I was concerned about the risks and benefits of the medication being used, but I did not feel that my questions were adequately explained or addressed.
asserted
questions → use → medication
As her wounds developed signs of infection, my mother was treated with intravenous antibiotics.
asserted
mother → develop → antibiotics
During the first two weeks, she received two courses but developed significant problems, including painful blisters in her mouth, a marked fall in haemoglobin and increasing difficulty eating.
asserted
she → receive → haemoglobin
I cannot independently determine the extent to which any medication caused these problems; however, I know that her condition was changing rapidly.
asserted
condition → determine → problems
Finally, Colistin was commenced intravenously.
asserted
Colistin → commence → ?
I was concerned about its potential effects on the kidneys and asked whether there was an opportunity to delay or reconsider the treatment while she recovered from some of the difficulties she had already developed.
asserted
she → ask → difficulties
Nevertheless, the consultant proceeded with the treatment.
asserted
consultant → proceed → treatment
I observed increasing fluid retention and swelling in my mother’s legs and feet.
asserted
I → observe → legs
Her laboratory results showed significant abnormalities, including deterioration in her electrolytes.
asserted
results → show → electrolytes
She became increasingly drowsy and semi-conscious.
asserted
She → become → ?
Eventually, her kidneys stopped producing urine.
asserted
kidneys → stop → urine
I cannot say from my own observations what ultimately caused her kidney failure or whether it could have been prevented.
uncertain
it → say → failure
Those are questions for qualified independent medical experts reviewing her complete medical record.
asserted
Those → review → record
But I believe they are questions that deserve to be asked.
asserted
that → believe → ?
Was her kidney function being monitored adequately?
asserted
function → monitor → ?
Were the risks and benefits of the medications being continually reassessed as her condition changed?
asserted
condition → reassess → medications
Was the deterioration recognised early enough?
asserted
deterioration → recognise → ?
And when her condition began to deteriorate significantly, was escalation of care sufficiently prompt?
asserted
escalation → begin → care
Her breathing and blood pressure became increasingly unstable.
asserted
breathing → become → ?
There appeared to be a prolonged period during which doctors were conducting consultations, investigations and assessments.
asserted
doctors → appear → consultations
Eventually, a junior doctor on duty rushed her to the Intensive Care Unit and placed her in a glass-sided room.
asserted
doctor → rush → room
Within approximately 20 minutes, she died.
asserted
she → die → minutes
I stood outside the glass enclosure watching her final moments.
asserted
I → stand → moments
I asked to enter the room and hold her hand, but wasn’t allowed.
asserted
I → ask → hand
Communication
One of my serious concerns was not simply the treatment itself, but the way communication took place.
asserted
communication → take → place
…and 57 more, not listed.
The Aporia
