Casablanca Hospital Blindness Scandal: Police Arrest Ophthalmology Assistant in Ongoing Investigation

On Thursday, the National Brigade of the Judicial Police (BNPJ) in Casablanca arrested an assistant working in the ophthalmology department of the August 20, 1953 hospital, reports Al3omk. Suspected of being involved in the incident that led to the blindness of several people after receiving an injection as part of their usual ophthalmological treatment, she risks being transferred to the competent public prosecutor’s office after the expiration of the legal custody period, to take the necessary measures against her. The Public Prosecutor’s Office will then decide whether she will be prosecuted in detention or released.

The suspect was suspended from her duties by the hospital management about six months ago after an internal investigation supervised by the health facility’s management. Other employees of the ophthalmology department have been directly retired. There are also employees who have been transferred to different departments.

At least 16 people lost their sight on September 20, 2023 after receiving an intravitreal injection, known by the abbreviation "IVT", at the August 20, 1953 hospital in Casablanca the day before, in accordance with the standards practiced in such treatments, according to the hospital. The BNPJ elements have heard the victims of the injection complications and all the people related to the case, following the complaint filed by a lawyer before the Attorney General on behalf of the victims, the site reports.