2 patients lose vision after ‘botched-up’ eye surgery

Rajiv Mahajan

Nurpur, February 26

Two patients from Fatehpur reportedly lost their eyesight after a botched-up cataract surgery at a free multi-speciality camp held at the Civil Hospital here.

The camp was organised under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) by a team of doctors from a private hospital of Delhi from January 23 to February 5.

As many as 110 patients had undergone the surgery. Those who lost their eyesight have been identified as Neelma Devi of Takwal and Pyar Singh of Kut village.

Sources said health officials did not monitor the surgeries performed by Delhi doctors and everything went haywire.

The cataract surgery of the left eye of Neelma Devi was performed at the camp and she was discharged the same day. She was asked by the doctors to come for a follow-up after 15 days, but soon she lost her vision.

Monu, son of Pyar Singh, who also lost his eyesight, said after his father’s surgery on February 2, he complained of a blurry vision and gradually lost vision.

He said he had got examined his father at a private hospital, where doctors had advised him that he should be taken to the camp. Monu took him there and then to another camp at Gangath, but that too did not help. The families of the victims now want the government to intervene and act.

Surinder Sharma, chairman of the Block Development Committee, Fatehpur, has demanded a high-level probe into the surgery.

He said the Health Department must take responsibility of the patients during such camps. He sought action against negligent doctors and compensation for the victims.

Block Medical Officer Surinder Bhardwaj said he had stopped the payment of Delhi doctors for now and was waiting for the directions of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Kangra. He said the department had provided an operation theatre, a clinical laboratory, X-ray and ultrasound facility to the doctors performing the surgeries under the NRHM. Bhardwaj said investigations were under way. Meanwhile, a two doctors from Dharamsala rushed to the spot on Saturday and examined the patients who had lost their eyesight. Kangra CMO RS Rana could not be contacted. Dr RK Sood the TB control programme officer, Kangra, who had examined the victims along with an eye specialist yesterday, too did not respond to calls.