Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta on Thursday suspended three nurses, ordered a departmental inquiry against multiple officers, and terminated the services of the consultant head of the ophthalmology department of the HBT Trauma Care Hospital, recommending that his registration be cancelled.

The medical superintendent of the hospital cannot be assigned any responsibilities until the inquiry is completed, while the doctor who carried out a shoddy preliminary inquiry will also face an inquiry.

Seven patients who underwent eye surgeries at the hospital suffered varying degrees of vision loss last month. The issue was brought to light by BJP corporator Abhijit Samant in the January 25 civic standing committee meeting. Mr. Mehta had ordered an inquiry into the botched surgeries, and issued the orders after receiving the report.

One nursing sister and two staff nurses were suspended immediately, pending detailed inquiry. The services of Dr. Arun Chaudhari, the consultant head of the ophthalmology department, have been discontinued. “The Maharashtra Medical Council be informed that suitable action be initiated for cancellation of his registration, pending that he should be restrained from performing any surgery or act that may be prejudicial to the health and well being of patients under his care,” Mr. Mehta said in his order.

A full-fledged departmental inquiry will be initiated against medical superintendent Dr. H.S. Bawa, registrar Dr. Mohammad Sabir, house officer Dr. Kushal Kacha, dresser Ashok Kamble and labourer Hitesh Kundalkar. The initial inquiry report submitted by Cooper Hospital dean Dr. Ganesh Shinde has been called ‘frivolous’, and Mr. Mehta has questioned his competence to be the dean of a large public hospital. An additional commissioner will conduct an inquiry into whether Dr. Shinde is fit to continue as dean.

‘Strong message’

“While a cataract operation going wrong in this day and age is unacceptable, the manner in which the issue was handled subsequent to the incident also shows complete negligence and a casual approach… this action should send a strong message that the follies and failings of individuals who are casual and negligent towards their professional duties will not be supported by a public system running on public money,” Mr. Mehta said in his report. He said “all civic compensations to be paid and criminal liabilities that may arise should fall squarely on the shoulders of the persons responsible”. The BMC will now come out with standard operating procedures for ophthalmology operation theatres.