NHRC notice to Tamilnadu govt over reported botched up cataract surgery

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi:    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that 16 patients lost their vision after a botched up cataract surgery at the Government Hospital, Mettur, in Salem District of Tamil Nadu from June 14-16, 2016. They included 12 women.

Issuing a notice to the Government of Tamil Nadu through its Chief Secretary, the NHRC has observed that the contents of the press reports raise serious issues of violation of human rights of the victim patients due to the apathetic attitude of the medical staff at a government hospital.  He has been asked to send a report on the incident, the reasons behind it and action taken against those responsible for it.  He has been given two weeks to respond.

According to the Media reports carried on June 25, 2016, the patients were sent home after the surgery.  They took eye drops given by the hospital but were unable to see. They were rushed to the Government Hospital, Mettur, again but transferred from there to a private hospital.   The vision of eight patients is reportedly badly affected while remaining eight have suffered minor loss of vision.