7 Lose Sight in Botched Cataract Surgery, Hospital Staff Blamed

BMC probe found out that even basic OT care was not maintained by the staff of HBT Trauma Care Hospital.

(Left to Right) Rafique Khan, Ratnamma Sanyasi, Gautam Gavane and Fatimabee.

(Photo: The Quint)

When 55-year-old Ratnamma signed up for a cataract surgery, little did she know that she would be walking out of the operation theater partially blind. On 4 January 2019, seven people underwent eye surgeries at the HBT Trauma Care Hospital- six had undergone cataract surgeries and the seventh person went through an intraocular lens implantation surgery.

A day after surgery, at least three patients lost their vision in one eye completely and the eyesight of four others could be barely salvaged.

“I’m unable to eat, my eye hurts all the time. I’m constantly confined to the bed and I’m unable to do any household chores. If I shut my right eye, I can’t see anything from the left one. I can only see if the right eye is open.”

Ratnamma Sanyasi, patient 

All the seven patients were immediately rushed to KEM hospital once the infection was detected. The damage, however, was already done.

85-year-old Fatimabee, another patient who lost her vision completely is now bedridden after she slipped and fell inside the hospital bathroom. Her eye was bandaged at the time.

‘When they opened her bandage, her eye was red and watering. It started burning. We thought this was because of the stitches, we don’t know how such operations work. We were not even given a chance to ask them about it.’

Liyaqat Hussain Sheikh, Fatimabee’s son 

Inquiry Reveals Gross Negligence By Hospital Staff

An inquiry by the BMC revealed gross negligence by the hospital staff. The report highlighted that even basic OT care was not maintained. Some of the key pointers highlighted were-

1. Instruments were cleaned and packed by untrained MPL/ staff nurses
2. Autoclaving of instruments was being done by non-trained MLP/ dressers
3. OT wash is conducted once in 2 weeks and OT swab is taken once in 3 months for each OT
4. Bacterial spore strips for monitoring sterilization was not done
5. All used consumable samples required to be sent for culture were not sent
6. Microbiology report of the sterile viscoelastic material used in OT showed growth of Staphylococcus species
7. The same phaco assembly were used for all 7 patients without sterilization

The civic body has already discontinued the services of Dr Arun Choudhary, the surgeon who was overseeing the operations, also calling for the cancellation of his registration. Three nurses have been suspended over the incident and a departmental inquiry ordered against 8 staff members.

“The incident reported is extremely serious and unpardonable. While a cataract operation going wrong in this day and age is unacceptable, the manner in which the issue was handled subsequent to the incident also shows complete negligence and a casual approach. the action to be taken will have to serve two purposes, viz. the persons who are responsible must face punishment commensurate to their negligence.” 

Ajoy Mehta, BMC Chief 

Families Struggle To Pay For Treatment

Families of the patients are now scrambling to arrange money to fund further treatment.

‘I kept my house rent pending and paid the bills at the Trauma Hospital, I then spent a month at KEM Hospital. Two months’ worth rent is left to be paid. Also, I need to get medicines for my mother. They used to tell me that they will be reimbursing my bills but I haven’t gotten a single Rupee.’

Liyaqat Hussain Sheikh, patient’s son 

Rafique Khan’s family meanwhile is struggling to make ends meet. “We have spent whatever we had and now we don’t have a breadwinner for our family. I have three children. I work as a domestic help at someone’s home in the morning and then come back to take care of my children. He was a driver and our home used to run on his income,” said Rafique’s daughter in law, Parveen Khan.