Shaima, doctors had tussle over signing transfer documents

Mumbai: Egyptian national Eman Ahmed’s sister Shaimaa Selim (32) was involved in a standoff with her doctors at Saifee Hospital for an hour prior to the former’s departure over the former’s refusal to sign the mandatory ‘transfer papers’.

Ms Selim eventually signed the papers after state health minister Dr Deepak Sawant intervened. The papers had been prepared by Saifee Hospital in consultation with lawyers to avoid any potential legal hassles in future, said sources.

Ms Ahmed, who was admitted at the hospital on February 9 to undergo a weight-reduction treatment, is to be shifted to Abu Dhabi’s private Burjeel Hospital for further treatment on Ms Selim’s request. The request was preceded by a spat between her and the Saifee team on Ms Ahmed’s treatment and the hospital’s decision to discharge her.

The CEO of VPS Healthcare, which owns Burjeel Hospital, Dr Shajir Gaffar, told The Asian Age, “The procedure of bed-to-bed transfer from Saifee was difficult while the chaos created by the media at the time of Ms Ahmed’s transfer was breach of her privacy.” However, Saifee’s bariatric surgeon Dr Muffazal Lakdawala told The Asian Age that the transfer of Ms Ahmed between the two hospitals went “smoothly.”

Ms Ahmed was scheduled to leave the hospital at around 10.30 am, but there was a delay due to the paperwork. The paperwork was prepared in front of lawyers to avoid legal hassles for doctors later on. Ms Selim allegedly had refused to sign several papers.

Dr Sawant said, “We have been closely coordinating Ms Ahmed’s transfer with both the hospitals and Egyptian consulate. Initially there was some problem, but later it was sorted so the patient could have a smooth transfer and happy journey.”

A detailed page summary report was handed over to the team from Burjeel Hospital.

Ms Selim — who had been in media’s spotlight after a fall out between her and bariatric surgeon, Dr Lakdawala — had told doctors that she wants to protect her sister’s
privacy.