Medical apathy: 22 patients put at risk as Delhi's GTB Hospital doctors administer contaminated medicine

In a shocking case of possible medical negligence, almost two dozen patients of suffering from diabetic retinopathy were allegedly administered the wrong medicine at Delhi government's GTB Hospital on Saturday. 

According to reports, the medicine was administered on Saturday, however, the problem was noticed only on Tuesday morning, when surgeons in the ophthalmology department noticed changes in the eyes of the patients, which compelled doctors to call for urgent operations.

While 20 patients were referred to the AIIMS RP eye centre for surgery, the remaining two underwent treatment at GTB Hospital, a report in India Today said. 

One of the vials of the medicine — Avastin — used by GTB doctors was contaminated. 

"The preliminary inquiry suggests that a medicine led to an adverse reaction in patients following which 22 suffering from diabetic retinopathy got worse, which usually does not happen. All 22 patients are under close observation and a few have been operated upon," said Dr Sunil Kumar, director of Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

Dr Atul Kumar, head of the Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at AIIMS, “Some had mild reaction and were just kept under observation, but eight of them needed a vitrectomy, a surgery to remove the infectious part of the vitreous humour. We hope that all of them get most of their vision back.” 

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the retina- the lining at the back of the eye that transforms light into images. It can lead to blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated.

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