Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Updated : December 5, 2014 11:12 AM IST
Amritsar, Dec 4 (PTI): Yet another case of medical negligence has been highlighted, this time in Amritsar, Punjab. In an eye camp organised by an NGO in Gurdaspur district, at least 60 people confirmed to have lost their eyesight.
Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar Ravi Bhagat confirmed the incident, saying 16 patients who were admitted to the city ENT Hospital for the surgeries are still under supervision of Assistant Professor Karamjit Singh, who confirms that all of have permanently are blinded.
The incident became known after these 16 patients approached Deputy Commissioner Bhagat to lodge a complaint against the NGO and concerned doctors. Bhalla said, 'It was found that there were a total of 60 patients and sixteen of them were from Amritsar.' These affected patients were above the age of 60 years. They had a poor economic background and were being provided free treatment in the ENT hospital of Amritsar and Gurdaspur.
A high-level inquiry has been ordered to investigate the operations performed at the camp. The patients underwent cataract surgery at an camp about ten days ago. Civil Surgeon Amritsar Rajiv Bhalla confirmed that the surgery was performed under 'severe unhygienic condition' that damaged the eyes of the patients permanently. According to Bhalla, the NGO did not take permission before organising the camp. The mandatory permission is given by district Administration and Civil Surgeons of Gurdaspur and Amritsar.
This is a second episode of medical negligence highlighted within a month. In an earlier case, at leat 11 women lost their lives after sterilisation surgeries carried out at a camp in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh.
With inputs from PTI
Video source: YouTube.com
Photo source: YouTube.com
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