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

Issuing a notice to the Government of Tamil Nadu through its Chief Secretary, the Commission 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 the 25th June, 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 to be badly affected, while remaining eight have suffered minor loss of vision.
It is also stated in the media reports that though at least 25,000 free eye surgeries are the successfully performed at various government hospitals in Salem District every year under the National Blindness Control Programme, but this shocking incident appears to have happened either due to some wrong medicine or some issue with the operation theatre.

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