"Expectorant Administered to Eyes": 19-Month-Old Baby Loses Sight During Cold Treatment in India

Family Says "Condition Worsened Rapidly After Medication"

Health Authorities Form Investigative Committee; Police Also Launch Probe

In India, allegations have been raised that a 19-month-old boy lost his eyesight due to a medication error by medical staff after visiting a public hospital with cold symptoms. Local health authorities and police are investigating whether there was any medical malpractice.

The 19-month-old boy (left), whose family claims that he lost his eyesight due to a medication error by medical staff, and the hospital prescription at the time. Photo by NDTV·Yonhap News

According to a report on June 29 by Yonhap News, citing Indian media outlets such as NDTV, Indrajit Vishwakarma, a resident of the Sagar region in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, took his 19-month-old son to Banda Public Hospital on May 29.

At the time, the child exhibited symptoms of a cold, cough, and conjunctival injection (red eyes), but his condition was not considered serious.

The family explained that the on-duty pediatrician examined the boy and prescribed eye drops, a syrup containing antipyretic and analgesic ingredients, and an injectable medication. However, the family claims that during the treatment, medical staff mistakenly administered an expectorant—a medication normally used to remove phlegm—into both of the child's eyes.

After the medication was administered, the child's condition rapidly deteriorated. The family stayed at the hospital for about three to four hours, hoping for improvement, but said that his symptoms continued to worsen.

The hospital transferred the child to a hospital in Sagar, where the medical staff recommended seeking care at a higher-level medical institution, stating that more specialized treatment was needed. The family then took the child to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh.

Vishwakarma claimed that the AIIMS medical staff informed him that the child had completely lost his eyesight due to the incorrect administration of medication or medical malpractice.

In a complaint submitted to the police, he stated, "My son's life has been destroyed," adding, "We went to the hospital because of a cough, cold, and red eyes, but now my child will never be able to see for the rest of his life." He also demanded strict punishment for the doctor and hospital staff involved.

As the controversy grew, the Sagar district health authorities formed an investigation committee consisting of three members. The committee will determine which medications were prescribed and which were actually administered, as well as whether there was any negligence during treatment. The results of the investigation are expected to be submitted within a week.

The police are also conducting a separate investigation into possible negligence by hospital staff based on the family's complaint.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.