Tamil Nadu government receives notice from NHRC over botched up cataract surgeries

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government over reports that 16 patients, 12 of them women, lost their sight during a botched up cataract surgery at the Government Hospital in Salem district.

The commission, which took cognizance of the issue after media reports, said that this incident raises the issue of serious violation of human rights of the patients due to the apathetic attitude of the medical staff of the Government Hospital.

The surgeries were done on 14-16 June at the Government Hospital of Mettur in Salem District.

The commission has learnt that after the surgery when the patients went home and put eye drops, they were not able to see. They were rushed to the Government Hospital at 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 sight.

Following the reports, the commission has issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government and demanded that action be taken against the accused within two weeks.