Callous doctors blind five
Five out of the 13 patients who underwent cataract surgery on June 30 at the government-run Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital are in danger of losing vision. Relatives of the patients blame the hospital authorities for negligence. The five patients who are in danger of losing vision are Anji Reddy, 70, Manikyam, 75, Nookalathalli, 60, Prabavathi, 58 and Arapani bai, 65.
​Hyderabad: Five out of the 13 patients who underwent cataract surgery on June 30 at the government-run Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital are in danger of losing vision. Relatives of the patients blame the hospital authorities for negligence. The five patients who are in danger of losing vision are Anji Reddy, 70, Manikyam, 75, Nookalathalli, 60, Prabavathi, 58 and Arapani bai, 65.
In a span of five days, four to five operations were conducted on the patients after doctors witnessed signs of severe inflammation following surgery on Thursday. Jitender Reddy, son-in-law of S Anji Reddy, who is in danger of losing eyesight, says, “There is not a single case sheet and prescriptions are written on small sheets of paper.
Highlights:
- No case sheets, 4-5 operations performed without consent
- Relatives lodge police complaint against hospital authorities
- Stock of Ringer Lactate fluids with bacteria sent for testing
- All surgeries were stopped from July 1
The doctors never explain what operation they are performing and what would be the risk.” Soon after the surgeries conducted on June 30, the doctors found out that the Ringer Lactate fluid, a fluid that is given to patients, developed klebsiella bacteria resistant to all drugs except chloramphenicol.
Consequently, the doctors conducted a series of operations on the patients without success. Jitender Reddy asks, “Neither the patients nor the relatives were informed. Three operations were done on my father-in-law and now they say that he may lose vision.”
Dr Rajender Gupta, Deputy Superintendent, Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, said that it was not the fault of the doctors and a committee under Dr Ravindra Goud, District Programme Officer, has been formed to give a report on the issue. Remaining patients may get back their vision with corneal transplantation, he added.
Meanwhile, the drug control administration sealed the remaining 576 bottles of Ringer Lactate for testing. The report is expected in a week. Drug inspector Ravi Kiran said, “There are three batches of the RL fluid namely 85, 86 and 87 are sealed and directions have been sent to all other hospitals to freeze the stock.
The same stock is used in Gandhi and Osmania hospitals as well.” Dr M C Mathur, ophthalmologist at Swarup Eye Centre says, “The bacteria can develop either at the manufacturers’ level or due to improper sterilization.”
On June 30, 22 surgeries were performed in different theatres in the hospital but the surgeries conducted in the theatre where these 13 patients underwent operations were affected.
Complaint lodged
A police complaint was lodged by M Jitender Reddy, son-in-law of S Anji Reddy against the Superintendent of the hospital alleging negligence at the Humayun Nagar police station on Wednesday evening.
Health Minister Laxma Reddy visited the hospital in the evening along with DMHO officials and said the government would probe the incident. Laxma Reddy also said that a committee consisting of doctors from government hospitals in Warangal and Hyderabad has been constituted to probe the issue.
He said this committee would be in addition to the committee constituted by the hospital.
