NINE LOSE VISION AFTER CATARACT SURGERY IN INDIA'S SOUTHERN TAMIL NADU. (TAPE NO: FM 5832)

NATURAL WITH TAMIL AND ENGLISH SPEECH

DURATION: 1.30

SOURCE: ANI

TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS: NONE

Nine lose vision after cataract surgery in India's southern Tamil Nadu.

At least nine patients lose their eyesight following cataract surgery in a private hospital in Dharapuram town of India's southern Tamil Nadu state.HOWS:

DHARAPURAM, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (DECEMBER 16, 2009) (ANI-ACCESS ALL)

1. GV'S OF THE HOSPITAL

2. PEOPLE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL

3. EXTERIORS OF THE HOSPITAL

4. PATIENTS, WHO LOOSE THEIR VISION FOLLOWING EYE SURGERY, STANDING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Tamil) KALAIMMALA, A VICTIM, SAYING: "I had come here with vision problem and I was advised to get a small operation to insert lens. I agreed for it but after the operation I realised that I lost my vision."

6. A GROUP OF WOMEN VICTIM STANDING

7. AN ELDERLY WOMAN STANDING

8. VARIOUS OF THE VICTIMS STANDING IN HOSPITAL

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BENJAMAN JAYARAJ, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, LUDHRAN EYE HOSPITAL, SAYING: ""Because of the infection which was informed in micro biological lab, it was totally carried infection of an eye and infection of bacteria of medicine...we have taken appropriate step to control one of the infections of bacteria in the eyes of the particular nine patients and they have been now recovered but are still under expert's guidance and services of the medical treatment."

10. VARIOUS OF THE VICTIMS STANDING IN THE HOSPITALSTORY: At least nine patients lost their eyesight following cataract surgery in a private hospital in Dharapuram town of India's southern Tamil Nadu state. bout 23 patients were admitted in city's Ludhran eye care hospital for cataract surgery, a private hospital run by a Christian missionary, out of which nine patients complained loss of vision following severe viral infection, inflammation and redness in the eyes.

The victims include five women and a 23-year-old youth.

"I had come here with vision problem and I was advised to get a small operation to insert lens. I agreed for it but after the operation I realized that I lost my eye sight," said Kalaimmal, a victim.

The surgery was conducted successfully on rest of the patients and they were discharged after administering a few eye drops and medicines.

Hospital officials said that the incident had happened due to viral infection in the medicine and eyes.

"Because of the infection which was informed in micro biological lab, it was totally carried infection of an eye and infection of bacteria of medicine...we have taken appropriate step to control one of the infections of bacteria in the eyes of the particular nine patients and they have been now recovered but are still under expert's guidance and services of the medical treatment," said Benjaman Jayaraj, Administrative Officer, Ludhran Eye Hospital.

However, police has registered a case of negligence against the hospital and launched an official probe into the botched up surgeries.