LAHORE: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has imposed Rs0.5 million fine on a private hospital for conducting infected cataract surgeries, holding the eye surgeon responsible for it under criminal laws and forwarded the case to the Pakistan Medical Commission and primary and secondary healthcare department for further action.

As many as 16 cataract surgeries were carried out at the Laeeque Rafiq Hospital, Rukanabad, Adda Laarh, Mutan. But, within two days of the surgeries, 12 of the patients developed serious infections in their eyes, leading to complete eyesight loss.

Independent observers, however, suggested stricter punishment for the culprit and heavy compensation for those losing eyesight because of the flawed surgery.

They suggested the PHC should seek amendment in the existing rules and regulations to enhance punishment, including fine, through the provincial cabinet to deal with cases of such gross medical negligence and criminal violations of related procedures.

Holds surgeon responsible

As a part of the initial enquiry, a four-member PHC team sealed operation theatres of the private hospital, confiscated the treatment record and recorded statements of its senior management, besides eye surgeon Dr Muhammad Husnain Ahmed, doctors and the staff concerned.

PHC chief executive officer and other higher officials also visited the hospital for a thorough analysis of the whole situation and investigation.

PHC chairperson Prof Dr Attiya Mubarak Khalid, giving details of the decision, said the commission has impartially probed into the issue from “all possible angles”.

“Laeeque Rafiq has been fined Rs0.5 million (the maximum as per the PHC Act 2010). Secondly, the real culprit is Dr Husnain, who is directly responsible for causing blindness to 12 unfortunate patients,” she said, adding that the surgeon’s case had been referred to the PMC and P&SHD – since he is also working as eye consultant at the Shujabad Tehsil Headquarters Hospital– for action under their relevant laws, besides holding him liable for the incident under criminal laws applicable in Punjab.

“The affected persons, if they choose so, may approach the local police with a copy of this order for initiation of criminal proceedings [against the surgeon] under applicable provisions of laws,” she said.

A PHC team had also sealed the eye surgeon’s clinic -- Husnain Eye Care. Moreover, the commission has submitted the enquiry report to the Punjab government for further action.

Meanwhile, an official told Dawn that the hospital and the surgeon blatantly violated all the standard operating procedures (SOPs). He said the probe found out that the surgeon changed his surgical gloves only four times while conducting 16 surgeries in a single day, infecting the patients.

The trolley used in the procedures was found infected and other surgical equipment were also not properly sterilised that allegedly led to the post-operative complications, he added.

He said the surgeon was in such a hurry that he performed five surgeries in an hour.

Talking about another criminal negligence, he said the operation theatre attendant (OTA) was just a matriculate and had no technical diploma or qualification.

He said apparently the private hospital was equally responsible for the negligence.

He was of the view that the punishment handed down by the PHC did not match the scale of the offence.

The official suggested the PHC should have recommended the government to provide financial compensation to the affected patients or some other relief.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2021