MP-CATARACT-CASES

Botched up cataract surgeries: Number of victims climbs to 13
    Indore, Aug 18 (PTI) The number of victims of botched
up cataract surgeries in Madhya Pradesh's Indore who have lost
vision in the affected eye due to a bacterial infection has
risen to 13 with two fresh cases surfacing on Sunday.
    In a ray of hope for the patients, noted eye surgeon
from Chennai Dr Rajiv Raman has said some of them might get
their vision restored to a great extent after treatment.
    Dr Raman has examined the patients on request of the
state government.
    Thirteen patients had undergone surgeries under the
National Programme for Control of Blindness at the city-based
Netra Chikitsalay, a private hospital.
    Earlier, eleven persons had complained to have lost
vision in the eye for which surgery was conducted.
    Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided
to shift three patients in serious condition to Chennai for
better treatment.
    The two cases that surfaced on Sunday are that of
Munni Bai Raghuvanshi (60) and Radha Yadav (45), according to
their relatives and officials.
    Local resident Shubham Raghuvanshi has told reporters
that his maternal grandmother Munni Bai Raghuvanshi (60)
underwent cataract surgery on August 5 at the Netra
Chikitsalay (hospital).
    "After the surgery, my grandmother completely lost the
vision in the operated eye," he claimed.
    Ajay Yadav, a resident of Palda area, said his sister
Radha Yadav (45) had undergone the surgery on August 5.
    "The doctors at the hospital kept telling us that
everything would be alright within four to five days, but
later we were told about pus formation in Radha's eye. She is
now unable to see with the operated eye," he claimed.
    Indore Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Praveen
Jadia told PTI that Dr Raman has examined all the 13 patients,
including the two women, at a hospital in the city.
    Dr Raman said, "There has been a serious infection of
pseudomonas bacteria in the affected eyes of the patients.
Prima facie, it is suspected that the infection was caused by
some fluid or liquid substance. The exact cause will be known
after medical investigation".
    "It is expected that some of these patients might get
their vision back in the affected eye to a great extent after
treatment," he said.
    Officials said they have decided to send three of the
13 patients who are in serious condition to a hospital in
Chennai.
    "While four (of the 13) patients underwent immediate
surgery for their infected eye, others are being closely
monitored by doctors," they said.
    Meanwhile, Dr TS Hora, the district in-charge of the
National Programme for Control of Blindness, has been
suspended for alleged negligence in the matter.
    District authorities have recorded the statements of
11 patients who are admitted to Choitharam Hospital.
    Public Health Minister Tulsiram Silawat visited the
hospital and assured best treatment for the patients.
    He had said on Saturday that a seven-member committee
headed by Indore Divisional Commissioner will probe the
incident.
    Indore Netra Chikitsalay director Dr Sudhir Mahasabda
had said that nobody could be blamed for the "unfortunate
accident", and that inquiry was underway. PTI HWP ADU
NSK NSK

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from a PTI feed.)