Thirteen patients who underwent cataract-removal surgeries at the State-run Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital last week are facing loss of eyesight.
Agitated and grief-stricken relatives of the patients alleged that the loss of vision was because of the negligence of the doctors. The doctors on the other hand claimed that it was due to an infection caused by the saline supplied by the government which was used for cleaning the eyes.
According to the Deputy Superintendent of the Hospital Rajendra Gupta, it had been identified that the bacteria in the saline was responsible for the incident. He said that the officials of the drugs department had visited the hospital and probed the matter. The hospital had now decided to send the saline bottles back, he said.
Gupta also said that it was the responsibility of the government to take action against the agency which supplied the saline bottles.
He asserted that the doctors were trying their best to restore the vision of the patients.
Meanwhile, the government has appointed eye expert Ravinder Goud to inquire into the tragic incident. Goud stated that there was no negligence on the part of the doctors and that the mishap had occurred due to bacteria in the saline. He said that the condition of seven out of the 13 patients was critical, and that the doctors were making all-out efforts to see that the vision of the affected was restored.
Doctors at the hospital said that in view of the incident and the agitation of the family members of the victims, cataract operations were being stopped for a week.