In an appalling barrack room-like surgery to remove cataracts, at least 14 people are reported to have lost vision in one eye after developing an infection from the procedure at a local hospital in Maharashtra’s Washim district, 450 km from here.
The shocking incident of gross medical negligence surfaced when a batch of 22 patients were brought to Mumbai’s Sir J.J. Hospital after they complained of pain, swelling in the eye and loss of vision following 72 hours of on-the-hoof surgeries at the civil hospital in Washim.
The other eight are said to be critical with doctors fearing that they too might become partially blind.
Tests have revealed that the eye swabs used at the hospital in Washim contained infectious bacteria which were contracted owing to unclean medical equipment.
According to Dr. Tatyarao Lahane, dean of J.J. hospital and an eminent eye surgeon, the case smacked of medical negligence where the surgical tools had not been sterilized properly.
“So far, we could restore vision in just three patients. It is a clear case of negligence on the part of the operating team,” he said.
The Washim hospital made a fatal error in referring the patients to the Akola Medical College instead of sending them to hospitals in Mumbai and Pune which are better equipped to handle such cases, said the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER).
“The alternative could have helped save the patients’ vision and avert tragedy. It was only when we learnt that such an incident has taken place, we brought them by ambulance to Mumbai,” said Dr. Satish Pawar, director, DMER.
The State Health Department has suspended five employees, including an ophthalmic surgeon, medical superintendent and three ophthalmic officers, for negligence while medical teams have been immediately dispatched to track down all 171 patients who were operated on during the cataract drive at the Washim district hospital last month.
