Govt suspends 4 doctors, nurse in eye infection case

Guwahati, Mar 1 (UNI) The Assam government has suspended four doctors and a nurse on the basis of a judicial probe panel report into the post-operative infection during a cataract correction camp at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in September 2006.

State Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma informed today that the action has been taken on the basis of the report of Justice (retd) PC Phukan enquiry commission, with the government preparing to place the report as well as the Action Taken Report in the state Assembly. The suspension orders were issued yesterday, he added.

The suspended doctors are Dr PK Goswami, professor in the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) of the GMCH, Dr DI Ahmed, assistant professor, Dr S Kakoti, registrar and Dr (Mrs) S Das, registrar. A nurse, Bhanu Bora, has also been suspended.

Dr Sharma further informed that RIO director SK Barua has been released of his duties on the basis of the report and the principal of the GMCH will look after the administrative functions of RIO. He said the suggestions for the patients' welfare as recommended by the judicial panel would be disclosed after the report is tabled in the Assembly.

As many as 34 patients had lost one eye each owing to post-operative infection after undergoing cataract correction surgery at a government-sponsored camp at RIO in GMCH.

Four others were cured after the government had flown them to Sankara Netralaya in Chennai following the infection.

Non-adherence to cleanliness and safety norms was identified as the reason for the infection.

UNI SG ADG KK AS1746