Chhattisgarh: 11 left blind in one eye after cataract surgery
In an apparent case of medical negligence, at least 11 people who underwent cataract surgeries on the same day at a private hospital in Chhattisgarh have been left blind in one eye. Incidentally, none of the others who had similar surgeries in the days before and after had any complaint. The authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
What happened?
At least 96 patients underwent cataract surgeries on February 22, 23 and 24 at the Christian Fellowship Hospital in Rajnandgaon, said Dr Thomas Abraham, director of community-based eye services. Three days after their February 23 surgeries, two patients returned with complaints of infection. Another 32 followed soon after. Eleven of them eventually lost vision in the eye they were operated upon.
Medicines used in the surgeries sent for examination
The circumstances are curious. Dr Abraham says none of these patients showed any sign of infection post the procedures. Moreover, the same surgeons had carried out 51 similar surgeries on February 22 and 24, but none of them had any complaint. They have now been sent to hospitals in Raipur for medical care, officials said. The medicines used in the surgeries are being examined.
In 2014, 60 people lost their eyesight at Punjab camp
Though disturbing, cases like these aren't uncommon. Five years ago, the state government had admitted that 62 people had partially or fully lost vision after undergoing cataract surgeries at camps in two years. In December'14, at least 60 people lost eyesight at just one eye camp organized by an NGO in Gurdaspur, Punjab. Authorities said the operations had been performed in "severe unhygienic conditions."
