THE state of our hospitals, especially government hospitals, is known to all.

However, as it turns out even one of the most `top-notch` private hospitals is no different.

Having heard numerous reports against the hospital for the past few years, I would dismiss them thinking sometimes mistakes can be made. However, now being a witness, I am forced to reconsider.

About 25 days ago one of my close relatives was feared to have cancer.

Therefore, bone marrow and biopsy tests were to be conducted. The top private hospital being the first choice, my relatives decided to get the laboratory tests done from there.

Little did they know that this `top-notch` hospital would not be much different fromgovernment hospitals.

First, it took 17 to 18 days for the hospital laboratory to provide the reports, although they had said they would be given after seven to eight days.

Finally, when the laboratory results did come and were shown to the oncologist, it seemed that the results weren`t conclusive at all.

It was like someone has put a person in the middle of a crossing and told them to reach the destination they want.

Secondly, as a usual practice, whenever such `sensitive` laboratory tests are done, the samples of the bone marrow and biopsy are kept for a period of time.

In this case, however, when the consultant oncologist asked for the samples for further testing, the hospital at firstrefused to give those samples back. Later, they said that the entire sample was used in the testing procedure. When my relatives started protesting, the hospital administration decided to calm them down by giving them slides of the tests, claiming that they don`t have the sample of the procedures but only the slides.

Later, it turned out that there was nothing on the slides. The hospital lied about the bone marrow and biopsy samples being there on the slides.

I can understand that the biopsy sample can be used up in the testing process, but lying in order to get rid of the already worried parents is completely outrageous and appalling.

Cancer is the disease that needs to be dealt with quickly. However, actions andattitude displayed by the hospital is, to say the least, despicable. If this is the state of our so-called `top-notch` hospital, then who is to blame the state of the other government or private hospitals? SAMANA Karachi