46 patients lost vision at a State-Sponsored Eye Camp; MP High Court admit Law Student’s Plea [Read Petition]

The Madhya Pradesh High Court bench at Indore admitted the petition by Abhishek (21) s/o Harish Gilke, Resident of Usha Nagar, Indore a law student seeking reliefs for more than 46 out of 80 people who have lost eyesight on contracting infections from cataract surgeries at a state-sponsored free eye camp held between 16-22 November at District Hospital, Badwani.

The petition was preferred on the basis of a news item published in “Naidunia Indore” dated 04/12/2015. Abhishek has alleged violation of Article 21 of the patients for which the doctors and authorities employed at the government hospital and the Health Department which conducted the surgery camp are responsible.

The newspaper report states that the affected persons were referred to Maharaja Yaswant Rao Hospital and Arvindo Hospital, Indore when allegations of botched surgery turned to outrage. A team of senior doctors has verified and reported that the infection has been caused due to use of infected instruments, saline lenses and eye wash. As per the declaration of Director, Health and Eye specialist Dr. Sharad Pandit the affected persons will not get the vision in future.

The petitioner has alleged that the affected persons have lost their vision permanently and they will never be able to continue their regular ordinary job or earn their livelihood. According to him the doctors have made this gross negligence to make the target of 8000 operations complete.

The petitioner has sought for a compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs to be awarded to each affected person. He has prayed for direction to the state to make rehabilitation centre and provide training for the purpose of employment of such affected persons. He has sought another direction to the state to register criminal case against the doctors, authorities and the suppliers of the drugs or instruments for their gross negligence. He has also made a prayer that a committee of expert doctors may be formed under whose vigilance such operations are to be carried out.

Read the Petition here.