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My tweet wasn't meant to suggest privilege: Sharmeen Obaid breaks silence on harassment claim

In a note posted on Twitter, Sharmeen clarifies her earlier tweets and stands by her statement

Updated 13 Dec, 2017

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy has been the topic of much controversy since tweeting about her sister's encounter with an Aga Khan University doctor who added her on Facebook soon after he examined her.

She termed the incident 'harassment' and said she will take action against it.

Also read: A claim of harassment stirs debate, draws Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy into focus

The incident led to the doctor allegedly being let go from the hospital - though AKU refused to either confirm or deny the rumours. Sharmeen's tweets have since created a hue and cry on social media in Pakistan, with some debating the term 'harassment', some calling out the Oscar-winner for referencing her familial connections, and with some going as far as to offer the accused doctor a job.

Now, the Oscar-winner has broken her silence on the matter with a statement posted on Twitter.

In the statement Sharmeen admits her words were "poorly chosen" and says she regrets that the backlash against her has obscured the real issue: that of harassment of women and the abuse of a doctor-patient relationship.

She clarifies that the doctor in question added her sister on Facebook and commented on her photographs, and once again called out this behaviour as a violation of a professional code of conduct. She states that AKUH is carrying out its own independent investigation.

She also reiterates that she will never stay silent where issues of harassment are concerned, and further states that we must support women when they speak out against harassment instead of drowning out their voices.

Will this statement satisfy Sharmeen's detractors? We think it ought to.

Comments

Sheroo Oct 31, 2017 12:33pm

I think people need to understand her point and think out of the box. In hospitals patients consent is utmost even for their life saving treatments, a doctor should have obtained a consent in this matter.

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Maria SaLIM Oct 31, 2017 12:36pm

If a friend request was sent it can be accepted or declined, why was it accepted then??

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aDNAN Oct 31, 2017 12:52pm

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Robert Oct 31, 2017 01:01pm

Her sister accepted the doctor's friend request. How is that harassment? If she thinks its inappropriate she should've rejected the friend request. The doctor in question lost his job. How sad is that.

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MSUH Oct 31, 2017 01:01pm

You can stop justifying anything because your words don't make sense at all!

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Dr M a Hussain Oct 31, 2017 01:01pm

No one is saying that the doctor's behavior was not unethical. But the way your have trivialized the meaning of harassment, you have done a big disservice to the women of this country, and will go a long way. Also, you have attempted to malign the whole nation by the act of a single individual. You have publicly threatened to misuse your position and status to do whatever you could in your capacity. You have proven through your words that you are also very much a part of the same society rife with intolerance and abuse of power. Yes, we have a problem with that.

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A Afridi Oct 31, 2017 01:13pm

Unfortunately ethics for doctors is nearly no where to be seen in Pakistan. There is a so called monitoring body called PMDC. They are occupied with their own power struggle and useless issues.

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Mumtaz Hussain Oct 31, 2017 01:16pm

For sending a friend request one just need a name only, if privacy settings are off. How can she judge that the doctor goes through her sister records for adding her on Facebook???

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AKS Oct 31, 2017 01:30pm

She should not have tweeted in the first place. it was only her sisters matter. Do we publicize when we complaint?

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Sania Oct 31, 2017 01:36pm

You go girl. We support you whole heartedly. What that doctor did was unethical and that behavior must be exposed.

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Qudseea Oct 31, 2017 01:36pm

Educated, progressive pakistani women, wants to play Angelina jolie and Kashaf at the same time. Irony takes a beating.

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Iqtidar Oct 31, 2017 01:37pm

To call a Facebook friend request "harassment" is to grossly dilute the seriousness of the word harassment. It's unfair to those who are in fact harassed.

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Salman Oct 31, 2017 01:42pm

The thing is she portrays the negative aspects of society abroad. So society also portrays her negative aspects.

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Qasim Oct 31, 2017 01:43pm

She's taken this incident just too far, probably more so because of what's been going on in Hollywood, recently, with Harvey Wienstien scandal. I think she made a hoopla out of this " Facebook friend request" to her sister. Yes, the Doctor might have been ethically at wrong, but, he certainly wasn't harassing Sharmeen's sister. If we start equating such incidents to harassment, then nobody will be safe! It'd be just too easy for someone to have another person fired! We need to make clear distinction between what is harassment and what is not. Sharmeen clearly used her status to get that Doctor fired,and the case is of ethical nature, not at all of harassment. She probably wanted to be in the limelight with the furore of harassment statements coming out of the Hollywood. Need to discourage such behavior.

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Zahid Oct 31, 2017 01:44pm

One might argue that Sharmeen tried to seek limelight through this issue. If she believes that the doctor was wrong then she should have immediately approached the hospital to only ensure that the doctor got "warned". She not only got herself in trouble through the social media uproar against her but also got the doctor fired by choosing what she chose.

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AFRIDI Oct 31, 2017 01:48pm

And is it ethical and moral to blame Pakistan for an unprofessional act of an individual doctor?

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Asim Shaikh Oct 31, 2017 01:57pm

its a failed attempt at "Saving The Face !" - but making it more uglier

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ha Oct 31, 2017 01:58pm

How was this harrasment? She could have called it unethical may be but Harrasment? She should appologize. She would have been sued in a western country for using the word harrasment for this incident. Luckily she chose a Pakistani doctor not a Canadian one.

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kosher Oct 31, 2017 01:59pm

I totally agree with the response, Ms Obaid. The doctor should not only penalised by the hospital but also by relevant medical council as well. This is how we can stop this type of attitude in the society, where some sick minded professionals try to get benefit of their position.

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Abuzar Oct 31, 2017 01:59pm

She become the same person whom she is exposing through out her career. The one who uses his\her position, name, creed, influence over others decision. But respect for her and her work and has not been changed. Will this statement satisfy Sharmeen's detractors? NO

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Umair Oct 31, 2017 02:00pm

He commented on her picture?! That is a much bigger deal than an inappropriate "friend request" because it discloses the doctor-patient relationship.

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Samreen Oct 31, 2017 02:00pm

now she is just trying to re frame the issue and make it about ethical conduct. There are undertones of boundaries being crossed but her tweet says it all "he messed with the wrong women" this whole issue is about privilege and power. The doctor would have gotten simply a warning had it been someone else, but, SOC wanted to champion women's causes this way. Being a smart woman, I'm surprised she chose this battle which has little to nothing to do with women's rights and more to do with her own warped sense of prejudice.

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Wilson Oct 31, 2017 02:04pm

My students have sent repeated friend requests on facebook and even commented on my photos leaving me uncomfortable at times. I am a man. But never once have I called it a sexual harassment. Obviously, a student-teacher relationship is equally critical. This brouhaha on harassment is uncalled for and in my opinion, it is nowhere near sexual harassment. Unethical, nonetheless.

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Majid Oct 31, 2017 02:05pm

Quotes from her tweet: "There are zero boundaries in Pakistan!" How come the action/experience of one person become the burden of whole society and nation? Second: "Unfortunately the doctor messed with the wrong person in the wrong family" Again, Sending a 'friend request' on Facebook can be unethical, immoral anything but not harassment.

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khawar Oct 31, 2017 02:06pm

I don't know why they have all made such a fuss out of it. The lady simply could have turned down the request and thrown the matter in dust bin. I believe Ms Sharmeen is trying to gain popularity through this cheap affair. If at all these female vigilantist champion wanted to exact punishment on offender then it should have done in equal proportions. Removing a doctor from his appointment for a facebook request is tantamount vengeful transgression.

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A. A. Oct 31, 2017 02:09pm

I am not her fan, however, she has a valid point!

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Aamer nawaz Oct 31, 2017 02:16pm

An attempt to add some body on the Facebook in medical ethics has not been established as violoation of patient doctor relationship as yet ! I guess it does have it,s cultural connotations as in Pakistan where it is considered to be equivalent to "hitting on " in particular on a female ! Sexual harrasment should be condemned in any form shape , intensity and manifestation any where in the world ! The point over here is that why this issue was dragged in to the public court of social media instantly and why not let a due process of an institution take place and decide whatever as per there etchical rules and regulation and then publicly discuss and prove the point ! This is another example of Irresponsible social media journalism in particular for the stature of Sharmeen Chinoy considering for the issues that she has stood for and got her stardom !

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Salman Oct 31, 2017 02:16pm

Rather than doing damage control please tell us what part was the abuse of doctor-patient relation, just the request of Facebook or was it something else. Are u from the royal family because i don't think there are any left.

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Shahbaz Ahmed Tarrar Oct 31, 2017 02:18pm

This woman can do anything for fame and "Oscars"...

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Javed Khan Oct 31, 2017 02:22pm

Naaa, I think she mean't it exactly the way it was perceived by majority of readers. Better response would have been to accept and move on.

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asif Oct 31, 2017 02:22pm

After all she is "Oscar winner", who can mess with her and family.

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Hasan Oct 31, 2017 02:26pm

Thats an absurd explaination for the defamation you once again brought to your motherland where you were raised educated and given the confidence to compete the world but sadly the energy is being used to target the motherland rather then the issues. The lady who played the instrumental role in your documentary is still seeking justice ! Not even once you apologised in your explaination for the derogatory remarks you posted and stereotyped the entire male population of Pakistan. Think over it ...

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Mohsin Oct 31, 2017 02:32pm

I am surprised that in the whole debate no one brought up too aggressive and questionable practices of Facebook around suggesting friends. If FB detects two people to be in close proximity, it suggested respective parties to add each other as friends. I have been proposed to add my driver, a plumber and few others. It is easy to confuse these suggestions as friend requests and you end up send a request to the other party. .. Can this all just be a mix up initiated by FB?

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Naxalite Oct 31, 2017 02:40pm

2 Words: Overreaction Backfired!

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IT Oct 31, 2017 02:40pm

looking for some funding for her NGO perhaps?

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Faisal Oct 31, 2017 02:43pm

Also using hashtag Pakistan was also in bad taste. Should sometimes highlight positive image as well. Agree Dr was ethically wrong.

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tariq awan Oct 31, 2017 02:49pm

The doctor seems to be using the information availed through professional contact and thus breaching the confidentiality of the patient and abusing his authority by reaching out the patient using the data availed at the workplace. The personal data is a very sensitive information and it should be kept confidential in all cases. Neither the hospital staff nor the public should have access to the personal information of the patients. It is responsibility of the hospital to ensure the protection of the personal data. Both hospital and the doctor are the guilty party in this case. Sharmeen may not be making her case clear, she is clearly sensing the breach and pointing it out rightly.

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Aamir Oct 31, 2017 02:49pm

He commented on your sisters photos? This means your sister accepted his request?

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Imtiaz Mahmood Oct 31, 2017 02:52pm

Fair enough...

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Adil Oct 31, 2017 03:05pm

I agree with Sharmeen....A doctor-patient relationship should not be contaminated by pursuing a personal friendship .I think the doctor showed poor judgement.

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Akram Zahid Niazi Oct 31, 2017 03:08pm

Agreed with Sharmeen.

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Eli Oct 31, 2017 03:08pm

Without being vindictive to the Dr, hope we can use this opportunity to debate information privacy laws and ethical standards for the medical profession in Pakistan. While in the west, there are very strict laws on both the subjects, and therefore it will constitute a serious case, but if there are no such laws in Pakistan, then this case has a different perspective and merits a deeper look at our laws and professional standards being practised

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aNALYSIS Oct 31, 2017 03:15pm

@Aamir Maybe not but her profile was public for sure...So why complain?

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Farhan Oct 31, 2017 03:17pm

Why tweet about it? It could have been managed in much mature manner, i guess Ms. Obaid played a little naive here.

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Faisal Khan Oct 31, 2017 03:47pm

I agree. Doctor, as a professional, had no right what he did. And, as a woman, even if it seems high handedness by Sharmeen, lets accept it as we have been accepting high handedness of Male Gender.

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ADeel Oct 31, 2017 03:51pm

Completed Agree with Shermeen Obaid here and good to know that she admit her earlier mistake of not correctly worded but issue related to ethical and unethical is still there and I am 100% with Shermeen Obaid here . If that Dr was unknown and just randomly add person on facebook no issue but here you have lost confidence by breaching data protection and I think now is the good time to have such laws in place so that no such incident take place.

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PHILOSOPHER (FROM JAPAN) Oct 31, 2017 03:53pm

I don't know much about FB but how come the doctor added someone without her intent and If he failed to add here how can he comment on someone's photos? Something is fishy in this case, it looks her sister has allowed the doctor to add her on his FB and due to some reasons (best known to her) she wanted to end / block him. If the scale of 'harassment' get down so lower than tomorrow some female patients can accuse the male doctor of harassment during medical checkup. where are we heading? gradually to some polarization of gender?

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STARGAZER Oct 31, 2017 03:56pm

Sharmeen, This could have happened anywhere in the world. Not only in Pakistan, so why making it public, when you were already taking it up with AKU management, and why blaming Pakistan. Considering your accolades earlier, highlighting social issues in Pakistan, which are always bound to get international recognition, perhaps this could have been another try. But my request is please find something good about our country, make a movie, and lets see if you win a contest on that.

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bAG Oct 31, 2017 04:00pm

@Aamir very good point actually. she should remember what goes around comes around.

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Syed Oct 31, 2017 04:02pm

What you did was 100 percent correct, the way it got done shows usual elite class attitude of Pakistan showing lack of tolerance and respect, we all do mistake s and in this occasion the doctor took advantage what we missing is a SOP at AKU this should be tackle at AKU level and doctor should warn or punished.I don't think loosing a job be a appropriate punishment

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timetostopthis Oct 31, 2017 04:08pm

Unethical behaviour from a Doctor. Totally unacceptable any where in the world.

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Dr javed Oct 31, 2017 04:09pm

I work as a doctor in the uk and it's rather sad to see how people in Pakistan fail to see the problem at hand. Had the same issue happened in the uk where there is strict guidance on patient confidentiality and an awareness of patient doctor boundaries, I have no doubt this doctor would have been seriously reprimanded. Breakdown of issues; 1) the doctor used the patients confidential information i.e. Her name to send a Facebook request. Information about patient should only be used for medical purposes and not for the personal use of the doctor. How is adding her on fb helping patient medically? 2) issue of professionalism. The patient went to the hospital only for a medical checkup, nothing more! it's never justified to for a doctor to break and extend their role outside of being a doctor. What if this doctor sees other female patients afterwards, is his first thought going to be how he can add them on Facebook? Would this impair his medical judgement?

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timetostopthis Oct 31, 2017 04:10pm

What the Doctor did was completely wrong. He should not be writing to his patients on facebook. The fact that he has done this in the past as well shows he doesn't know where his boundaries are. Time for the medical council to take action against him.

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Ahmad Kainth Oct 31, 2017 04:29pm

Grapple with criticism on social media, she has nothing but to clarify her position regarding this issue where on Facebook friend request , she criticised whole medical fraternity. She wants one more Oscar but she hasis no story so she tries to get limelight through this

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AJR Oct 31, 2017 04:32pm

Thank you, SOC, I am a doctor myself, I now understand that the behaviour of doctor was found wanting severely on professional grounds. He should be investigated.

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Farooq Oct 31, 2017 04:50pm

In our culture, such behavior is certainly not un-usual from a privilege class person.

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honey singh Oct 31, 2017 04:51pm

@Sania my wife is a doctor and similar things she face quite often from her doctor colleagues even.

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Abdulla Hussain Oct 31, 2017 04:54pm

Damage already done Ms. Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy. A doctor lost his job for no foul play. You lost some fan following. People did not expect your hardline comment. Every day millions of such innocent request are received by FB members.

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Khan usa Oct 31, 2017 04:58pm

She is classified as “wrong woman from wrong family” and can fix anyone she wants. Would love to find out how many friend requests does she get every day and how many complaints does she files in return?

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Rafique Khan Oct 31, 2017 05:01pm

Sharmeen should take action against her sister and should avoid to take action against Doctor. If her sister is harassed by one doctor due to he sent a friend request in facebook is very strange. Why her sister is in facebook she must avoid to open any account in social media. I am also against the sexual harassment in workplace but this is not a sexual harassment to send friendship request in facebook.

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mansoor Oct 31, 2017 05:12pm

Sending the friend`s request is not harassment; thanks to those who criticized Sharmeen that forced to tweet the explanation.

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Citizen Oct 31, 2017 05:17pm

Harassment doesn't mean any one specific action or only one severity. Harassment can range from minor to severe like anything else. I believe this is still a form of harassment given the doctor had no ethical right to contact and comment on a females pics who has had the 'privilege' to a very private medical examination. That's like a doctor asking out the female during a private medical examination.

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Zaidi Oct 31, 2017 05:39pm

The doctor`s action is unethical . How ever, this action of one doctor does`nt meant that there are no boundaries in Pakistan . Also a Friendship request on Facebook is not sexual harassment by any means . Please get your facts straight first. This doctor may have been seduced b your sister, who knows if she is the one who gave him friends request first or stalked his Facebook profile hence he got a suggestion to add her up. We don`t know. What we do know is that you are on a power trip and believe he messed with wrong family. They could have given him warning or have him do a ethical course for boundaries but firing him for just a tweet with out any investigation is irrational from Aghakhan Hospital.

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asad Oct 31, 2017 05:40pm

@asif Pakistanis are made to realize that moral is dictated from powerful to the powerless.

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Aman Oct 31, 2017 05:42pm

I am not sure how someone can just add someone on FB and start commenting on photos. Unless the other person accepts you as a friend you could not even see any pics. I am sure Sharmin and her sis knows how to set security on their accounts.

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A CITIZEN Oct 31, 2017 06:06pm

I'm confused. Can anyone unilaterally add someone as a friend on Facebook? Sharmeen Chinoy seems to be alluding to this, conveniently leaving out the part where her sister accepted the doctor as a friend and thus giving him the right and opportunity to comment on her pictures.

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RAhan Oct 31, 2017 06:07pm

Thank you winning by defamation the nation. There may some positives if you can become postivie to this nation. Next get a consultation for a psychiatrist from LA

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ga Oct 31, 2017 06:29pm

What the doctor did was unethical but his true crime was sending fb request to a Pakistani woman while being brown. Had he been a white guy....

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ahamed Oct 31, 2017 06:35pm

@Sania please say what the unethical part was. Poor guy may lose or has lost his job because of high handed behaviour of Sharmeen. Accepting a friend request is a consent and may be cancelled by either parties. And don't bring AKUH in the picture because it had no role in this.

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LIFE Oct 31, 2017 06:50pm

I fully endorse your comments Sharmeen. There must be some women who can make men to understand their shortcomings and in that light, realise their past mistakes and become a better person in future.

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Concerned Oct 31, 2017 07:26pm

If Sharmeen feels her sister was vulnerable using Facebook then she needs to block her profile from general public. When you leave your account open to view by general public then you are agreeing that strangers can send you friend requests and it is up to the individual who received the request to accept or deny - that is in part the philosophy of Facebook to build communities. Except that the doctor behavior was unethical and in general all medical students/physicians in Pakistan should be educated about patient doctor confidentiality issues, not sure what the fuss is about...

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Nadar khan Oct 31, 2017 07:47pm

I work at hospital and I take pictures when famous people come they have never refused and regreted when I asked.

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OPREEDAY Oct 31, 2017 07:50pm

Stop using social media if you don't have the guts to simply reject an unwanted request and thus making it so big international issue.

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Farrukh Oct 31, 2017 07:58pm

@Maria SaLIM , YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT .

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Malik Oct 31, 2017 08:08pm

In my opinion her tweet has a smell of proudy, previlaged family and inappropriate selection of words. On the other hand if anyone becomes your patient then you are not a common person. Now you establish the patient- doctor relationship so you can not ask her or call her if it is not medical issue and it also depends on the hospital policy. It was a clear violation of etical standards which is a serious breach of patient- doctor relationships

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SaAd Oct 31, 2017 08:40pm

If Mahira khan sister comes to see Me and I look her for any thing. Car mechanic. Doctor or as an accountant I will try to add her on my face book cause she’s connected to some one famous it’s natural. Her sister had a choice to turn it down it’s simple . She’s making a big deal Out of. It’s an online world Doctor didn’t commit any crime

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Farrukh Oct 31, 2017 08:46pm

@Robert , absolutely agreed

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Shahid Mahmood Oct 31, 2017 08:53pm

In the western world, which she is trying to impress so hard, women get hit by men all the time be it through social media or else, that would mean thousands of law suits every hour, an educated response should have been to just ignore. Very sad that the doctor lost his job, all the doctors in Pakistan can easily go abroad and make 10 times of what they are making in Pakistan, the service that they deliver to the country is immense and is more then what the Obaid's can deliver in 10 lifetimes!

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Dr Sal Oct 31, 2017 09:03pm

@Iqtidar : Well said

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SIAK Oct 31, 2017 09:53pm

She was plain simple immature in dealing with it. She chose a wrong occasion to vent out her frustration thus trivializing a ver delicate issue....she harassed the gentleman from her position of strength Period.

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Jamila Qizalbash Oct 31, 2017 09:55pm

The doctor is clearly in the wrong. He should never ever have initiated a social contact with his patient, However, the issue of women harassment has been diluted and ill served by Chinoy. She seems to have used her celebrity status to influence Aga Khan Hospital for a personal vendetta. Alas, thousands of women are harassed, molested and abused but no such hoopla is created.

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UNCLE SAM Oct 31, 2017 10:52pm

Coming from a women who made documentaries to shame Pakistan, Those were good topics but I dare her to make documentary about suffering of Pakistani people due to terrorism and let see how many Oscars she will win. All these people feel privileged due to their financial position. By the way, her family has oversees accounts in Panama. check the list.

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Khurram Oct 31, 2017 11:32pm

The Doctor should use his right to file a suit for defamation

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Khwarizmi Oct 31, 2017 11:41pm

Most people would never destroy their country's reputation and image for the sake of Oscars. Also, she is way beyond reason in this case.

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Irfan Nov 01, 2017 12:05am

Maybe she might make a documentary film on this case as well. While harassment clearly exists, she has taken this way too far.

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FN Nov 01, 2017 12:20am

@Maria SaLIM Where does it say that it was accepted?

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FN Nov 01, 2017 12:24am

@Robert Where does it say that her sister added him?

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Naved Nov 01, 2017 12:27am

In fact very deep information and close observation is needed to make a judgement about such events. Every case is a different case. In some cases man's inappropriate behavior and taking women as a source of enjoyment is the cause. While in some cases a woman dealing style and non-verbal encouragement is the real reason for a man to cross the limit. So in this particular matter the concerned people should look into the details to address the problem. There can't be two opinions that women should be respected and feel protected when go outside their home for a purpose.

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Bitter truth Nov 01, 2017 12:31am

If I were that doctor I should have sued her in court of law, poor doc if you reading this go to lawyer and serve her legal notice,if she were in western country she could have gotten it instantly but ironically this is Pakistan.

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Negotiator Nov 01, 2017 01:03am

The things have gone murky on the issue. She accepted her mistake of being high on international exposure but again the question is whether doctor was justified on pursuing her after a "very private" physical examination? No sir, never. I am extremely critical of sharmeen's views and of her overt exposure by international media and off course look down at her words(superiority complex) used in tweets but the doctor's behavior was questionable. One more thing that Sharmeen has got her reality check also( how sge is viewed at home).

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BAKHTI Nov 01, 2017 01:16am

How on earth can one "try to add someone as a friend" on FB. You can only send a request , which can be denied easily by the recipient.

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STRAIGHTFORWARD Nov 01, 2017 01:16am

So the Oscar award winner has found the much needed ground for her next project.

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AbBas KHAN Nov 01, 2017 01:19am

@Aamir Thats a made up story to defame Sharmeen!

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M. Khan Nov 01, 2017 01:20am

She has proven to be an opportunist who would capitalize on the plight of oppressed women for her own popularity and has done nothing for their welfare.

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AbBas KHAN Nov 01, 2017 01:23am

@Shahbaz Ahmed Tarrar Think out of your box yaar. The doc is at fault here, think again. But I dont recommend firing this doctor or cut his salary, I would just reprimand him this time. give this doc a chance. we all make mistakes.

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Javed Jabbar Nov 01, 2017 01:27am

I am surprised to know that she doesn't know the meaning of harassment.

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jaredlee67 Nov 01, 2017 01:53am

Sharmeen also crossed the boundary by not letting her sister address this matter. Sharmeen should have encouraged her, but should have not acted on her sister's behalf. Victims of harassment should learn to speak up fearlessly and not rely on other (influential) people in society.

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Dr Talha ahmed Nov 01, 2017 01:57am

One thing was sure *doctor is a guilty party and will need to be disciplined and work under supervision,rather punitive measure to strike him off via PMDC. If sharmeen accepted doctor permission,then she must have been aware,what she was doing,to frame doctor and bring him in disrepute. Its not easy as it appears,doctor will need to learn,in case he saves his practising licence. It should have sharmeen daughter to make allegations,unless she is below 16 or incapacitous.

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Kashif abbasi Nov 01, 2017 01:58am

Amazing.....someone who has won 2 oscars and an emmy...wants us to believe, she failed to express herself appropriately!

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Rehan Nov 01, 2017 03:12am

I guess, we needs to understand the difference between harassment and unethical. Unfortunately what he did was unethical but what you did was harassment. This poor guy lost his job but I hope he doesn't lose his license due to your influence ''because of messing with wrong family''.

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Danish Nov 01, 2017 03:27am

How she determined that Dr use her sister personal info, that intended for medical reasons? If two person have Internet enabled on phone and have been in same location fb will show them in suggesed friends, if privacy settings are leanent in fb account.

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Nope Nov 01, 2017 04:08am

@Dr javed "the doctor used the patients confidential information i.e. Her name to send a Facebook request." In US and name alone is not considered confidential information. Name+ address or Name + social security number or Name+ Information about medical condition would be considered confidential information. The doctor's behavior was inappropriate but he did not deserve to lose his job, at best he could have been reprimanded. The sister did not experience any 'harassment'. All she had to do was to decline the friend request.

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Karachi Wala Nov 01, 2017 04:59am

The comments can only be made if your FB profile is "open". If comments on the picture is felt as harrassment, she should not display her pictures open for comments. FB provides you flexibility to keep your profile "personal" so no body can comment. It appears Sharmeen was looking just for a publicity stunt.

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Yankee Cricket Fan Nov 01, 2017 05:28am

The best thing to do is not have a Twitter account where 99% of people say something and then regret later, or a Facebook account where someone can write inappropriate comments or strangers can try to befriend you. Yes, I have neither of those social media accounts and my life is just fine.

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azmat Nov 01, 2017 06:33am

It seems that Madam is actually trying to harass the doctor.

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Tamza Nov 01, 2017 07:03am

@Sania Improper but NOT unethical.

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Tamza Nov 01, 2017 07:11am

Actually the harasser here is Ms SO with an extremely disproportionate action to the issue. She OWES the doctor a growling apology.

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Kashif Nov 01, 2017 09:24am

The doctor should go in court of law and Sue her for ruining his reputation.

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Amin Nov 01, 2017 10:37am

How could the Doctor have commented on the pictures without her sister having accepted the invitation ? Something very fishy here.

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Dr keen Nov 01, 2017 02:15pm

What about the countless times patient call up doctors or text them regarding trivial issues like a fever or flu even after being discharged months ago?! No one ever brings up a doctor's side of the story.

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aamir Nov 01, 2017 02:19pm

Sharmeen Obaid is discussing the respect of woman/female in society and dignity of a medical professional. These two things are separate discussions. Now these two issues combined together dragged in the family has added a third issue with it. I believe these 3 topics need to be looked in their own severity and may be solution to all of them found out to be same but to be implemented differently. Dignity of medical professional need to be the one'she who should be source of peace and harmony rather then creating inconvenience. Harassment in any format with any age any gender and at any level should be condemned and it should not be looked at from one gender prospective only. Lastly, family members safety and protection should always be priority and to protect them all defensive measures should be adopted not necessarily only social media. I believe in an emotional strive and impulsive thought process a matter which should be taken care seriously has been mismanaged. Good wishes for her

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Arshian Nov 01, 2017 02:42pm

I totally agree with Sharmeen Obaid ...none of the doctor or other has to harras a woman like that...its really unethical..it is actually a Harrassment....y bcz majority of the men think that women are weak and we can do whatever we want with them whether it s about sending a friend request....how can a doctor choose to seek out his patient on social media ??when this kinda trust is broken it is a violation..... Hatts off Sharmeen Obaid raising an issue and not remained silent .....

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NISAR ali khan Nov 01, 2017 03:35pm

@Dr M a Hussain you are right sir. she should not accepted his friends request

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Javed Hameed Nov 01, 2017 06:19pm

"Very private examination" is self-explanatory, sensitive issue, sensitivity must be shown, perhaps the doctor was overwhelmed with the sentiments, and his behaviour is professional misconduct.

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bILAL Nov 01, 2017 07:23pm

Sharmeen, I agree with you that women have to face a multitude of situations involving sexual harassment. And I agree it is unacceptable. Boys in our society have to grow up into men. But, here is a distinction that you must understand. We shouldn't encourage boys to never lets girls know how they feel. They must always express their feelings. But they should do it in an honorable and respectful manner. When influential women like yourself express yourselves on the topic of sexual harassment, please keep in mind that many boys are reading your stuff and it confuses them further. We don't have a lot of examples of the divine masculine in our society to begin with. They read stuff like your tweets and any chance they have of becoming a real man goes away. They have no choice but to remain a boy their entire life. And here is the kicker. Real men don't engage in sexual harassment. Only boys who did not develop into a man commit sexual harassment.

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Malik Nov 02, 2017 11:22am

How would a doctor knows someones Facbook ID and suppose he search by name then her sister should be the one who can denied the friend request sent by the doctor as there is strict privacy policy by Facebook for every user.

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Shafaq Ahmed Nov 02, 2017 01:40pm

Was her sister a minor or less than 18 years of age who needs others to speak on behalf of her?

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K F Khan Nov 02, 2017 04:01pm

She was arrogant, condescending and threatening. So smug. What's there not to understand.

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Fida Ul Karim Nov 03, 2017 12:12am

Your explanation restored my trust in you,it was so mean of the Dr.

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