Writ seeks compensation for 20 who lost eyesight following surgery

The High Court today issued a rule asking the director and a physician of the Impact Masudul Haque Memorial Community Health Centre (IMHMCHC) in Chuadanga to explain why they should not be directed to give Tk 20 crore in compensation for 20 people who lost their eyesight following surgery at the health centre on March 5.

Director of IMHMCHC Hasib Mahmud and its physician Mohammad Shahin, who reportedly conducted the eye surgery to 20 poor people, have been asked to give the explanation in two weeks.

In the rule, the court asked the authorities concerned of the government and IMHMCHC to show cause why inaction of Hasib and Shahin in adopting proper safety measures while conducting the eye operations of the mass people should not be declared illegal.

The court in the rule also asked the authorities to come up with an answer why legal action should not be taken against Hasib and Shahin for their reported misdeed and negligence in conducting unsafe eye operations during a three-day eye camp.

The health secretary, home secretary, director general of the directorate of the health services, civil surgeon of Chuadanga, deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Chuadanga, director of IMHMCHC Hasib Mahmud its physician Shahin have been made respondents to the rule.

The bench of Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir came up with the rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Amit Das Gupta seeking a directive for Tk 20 crore compensation to 20 people who lost their eyesight following the surgery at IMHMCHC on March 5.

The bench asked the petition to place the petition before it on May 6 for hearing the rule.

Advocate Amit Das Gupta submitted the petition as a public interest litigation praying to the HC to direct the IMHMCHC's director and its doctor Md Shahin, who conducted the surgeries, to pay compensation to the 20 victims.

In the petition, he urged the court to order the authorities concerned to take legal action against the health centre and the physician for their reported mistreatment and negligence in conducting unsafe eye operations during a three-day eye camp.

The petitioner also urged the HC to issue a rule upon the respondents to show cause why inaction of the health centre and Dr Shahin in adopting proper safety measures while conducting the eye operations of the mass people should not be declared illegal.

The report published by the daily Samakalon March 29 said that 20 persons have lost their eyes following the surgeries on March 5 as the authorities did not adopt appropriate safety measures.