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'I often wake up in the night feeling as if someone is pulling the tubes from my daughter and tightening my handcuffs'

Dr Rashid Abbasi says he has not recovered from being taken away from his dying daughter

Two parents are taking legal action after they were forcibly removed from their dying daughter鈥檚 bedside in hospital by police officers. Dr Rashid Abbasi told Mishal Husain that he and his wife Aliya have not recovered from the experience: 鈥淲e are still living the nightmare. I often wake up in the night feeling as if someone is pulling the tubes from my daughter and tightening my handcuffs.鈥 Rashid and Aliya Abbasi were taken away from their daughter, six year old Zainab, by officers in August 2019. They had just been told that their critically ill child would be taken off her ventilator, against their wishes. They had previously had numerous disagreements about her care with hospital staff. The story was first reported in the Mail on Sunday after police body camera footage of the incident was obtained under a Freedom of Information request. The NHS Trust involved said the decision to involve police and security staff "is never taken lightly鈥 but 鈥渋t is essential that we maintain a safe and secure environment for our patients and families.鈥

Credit: Press Association

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