At least nine patients in Abbottabad have lost their sight after they were reportedly incorrectly administered an injection. The hospital has subsequently launched a probe into the incident.
Ayub Teaching Hospital (ATH) Medical Director Professor Dr Ahsan Aurangzeb said that for the past four years, every month they administer a special injection to some needy and critical eye patients.
He explained that last Friday, 11 patients were called in for the injection at the operation theatre ATH’s eye ward ‘A’. To improve the blood circulation in their eyes, he said that the special injection is directly applied into their eyes.
Dr Aurangzeb said that some of these patients had previously undergone this procedure at least once.
On Monday and Tuesday, nine of these patients came in complaining that they are losing their eyesight. Dr Aurangzeb said that he and ATH Director Dr Nadeem assured the patients that they will be treated for their condition.
Moreover, the hospital administration sent the injection and other material to a drug testing laboratory while a high-powered inquiry committee has been constituted to probe the incident.
Among those who have lost their eyesight is former national footballer Mir Afsar Hussain - who lost sight in both of his eyes, Qalandarabad resident Aurangzeb - who lost an eye, Haripur resident Yaqoob - who lost an eye, Banda Ali Khan resident Fatima Bibi - who lost an eye, and another Haripur resident Kulsoom Bibi - who lost sight in both eyes.
The affected patients have demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter and to award exemplary punishment to the hospital staff if they are found guilty of negligence.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2020.
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