Eight villagers lose sight after cataract operation in Kanpur, probe on

KANPUR: In an alleged case of medical negligence, eight people -- all from villages in the Kanpur district -- lost their eyesight following a cataract surgery at the city-based Aradhya Hospital, a private facility.

On Thursday, the affected patients gave their statements before the panel set up to probe the incident. Speaking before the panel, led by Kanpur’s chief medical officer, 74-year-old Ramesh Prajapati said, “They charged us Rs 1,500 and performed the cataract surgery. However, we lost our eyesight following the operation. I went to the hospital again but they could do nothing.”

According to the panel’s probe findings, the patients were not asked to undergo necessary examinations -- like blood pressure, sugar level, and other blood tests -- before the operation. The operation on the eight affected patients was performed by eye specialists -- Dr Parvez Khan and Dr Shalini Mohan. In his defense, Dr Khan has said that six out of the eight affected patients already had a severe eye condition.

Taking cognisance of the incident, additional chief medical officer Dr SK Singh filed a complaint in the matter based on which a case was lodged under IPC sections 338 and 419. Meanwhile, DCP ( South) Pramod Kumar said that the police are investigating the case.