Telangana Rights Panel Orders ₹78 Lakh Payout for Botched Cataract Surgeries

In a major ruling on medical negligence, the Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) has reportedly recommended ₹78 lakh in monetary compensation for 18 patients who suffered severe vision loss after botched cataract surgeries at a private empanelled hospital in Hanumakonda district.

The surgeries were conducted in 2018 at Jaya Hospital under the state government’s flagship 'Kanti Velugu' eye-care initiative.

In its order issued on July 30, a TGHRC panel headed by Dr Justice Shameem Akther directed state authorities to pay ₹4 lakh each to 12 surviving victims and ₹5 lakh each to the families of six victims who have since passed away as per reports.

Gross Lapses and Severe Infections

The commission’s landmark ruling followed a suo-motu case initiated in September 2018 after widespread news reports highlighted post-operative complications among patients treated at the facility.

A comprehensive inquiry by the panel established that gross medical negligence and systemic failures directly caused catastrophic bacterial eye infections among the patients.

• Patients contracted severe Enterobacter cloacae infections during their procedures.

• The infections caused partial or complete blindness, requiring prolonged medical treatment and causing profound physical and mental agony.

• Investigators discovered glaring lapses in operation theatre maintenance and basic hygiene standards.

• The inquiry highlighted widespread failure in sterilisation procedures, instrument handling, and general patient safety protocols.

• Technical reports from the State Health Department and medical records from Hyderabad’s LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) were evaluated during the proceedings.

Fundamental Rights Violated

The panel evaluated testimonies from affected families along with expert submissions by Dr Rajeev K Reddy Pappuru, an ophthalmologist at LVPEI. Holding the authorities accountable, the TGHRC ruled that such systemic failure and lack of administrative oversight constituted a clear violation of the victims' fundamental rights to life, health, and human dignity guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Exercising its statutory powers under Section 18 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the commission ordered a detailed departmental inquiry to fix individual responsibility on the erring surgeons, medical staff, and supervisory officials. State authorities must now implement the compensation recommendations promptly and submit a comprehensive action-taken report.