8 lose vision after cataract surgery in Kanpur

KANPUR: Eight people in Kanpur lost vision in both eyes after undergoing cataract surgery during a medical camp at a private hospital due to alleged medical negligence earlier this month, additional chief medical officer (ACMO) Dr SK Singh said on Thursday, adding a panel has been set up to probe the matter.

The victims, all residents of Veeramau village in Kanpur, said

they underwent the surgery at a medical camp conducted by Aradhya Hospital on November 3 and 4.

Dr Neeraj Gupta, who did the surgery and is now facing an FIR, said the patients lost their vision as they did not adhere to post-operation directions.

Ramesh Prajapati (74), one of the victims, said: “I paid ₹1,500 for the surgery but I lost my eyesight after the operation”. “I returned to the hospital but they said they cannot do anything,” he said after appearing before the probe panel on Thursday.

Another victim, Sher Singh (70), complained of a severe headache and said his eyes were burning after the surgery.

“The doctors did not pay heed to my complaints at the hospital,” he said.

Dr Gupta, however, said: “I performed 51 eye operations in all. Out of them, only eight developed an infection because they did not adhere to my directions. I had asked them to not put a piece of cloth on their eyes.”

Dr Singh said an FIR has been registered against Dr Gupta and hospital agent Duresh Shukla under Sections 338 (whoever causes grievous hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life) and 419 (punishment for cheating) of the Indian Penal Code. DCP (south) Pramod Kumar said a probe is underway. “The probe will be assisted by eye specialists from a government hospital,” he said.