Eye Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida Causes Partial Blindness
Medical malpractice cases have now become some of the most difficult cases for attorneys to undertake. While the attorney would like to be able to assist the potential client in obtaining some financial assistance for their pain and suffering and especially for the past, present and future medical care, the case must be a very clear cut case of medical malpractice because insurance companies, hospitals and doctors fight these cases with all of the resources available to them.
In this particular case, while working in his kitchen at home on a Saturday, this 60 year old gentleman suddenly began to have lines going through his left eye, and then just as suddenly, they went away, leaving him with somewhat blurred vision. With no recent trauma or strenuous activity to explain this strange occurrence, he called and made an appointment with his ophthalmologist for the following Monday.
Upon examination of this gentleman’s left eye, the ophthalmologist informed him that he had a detached retina and his office set an appointment for the patient to go directly to a retinal specialist that same day. The retinal specialist examined the patient and performed laser surgery on his left eye that very afternoon. Two days later, it seemed as if a veil had come down over his left eye and he completely lost his vision. The retinal specialist scheduled this gentleman for surgery for a retinal detachment. This surgery went very well and he recovered his vision in his left eye.
At the follow-up visits for the left eye surgery, the specialist suggested a “little surgery” for this patient’s right eye and it was soon scheduled because the patient was under the impression that this was a very routine procedure. The physician never discussed with this patient the possible complications that could come from this surgery.
Unfortunately, the surgery on the right eye did not go well and the patient was told to return the following morning. At that time, his right eye was drained with two needles sticking out of his eye. The patient was to return to the retina specialist the following afternoon and at that time the physician examined his right eye and informed him that he had a cataract in his eye and that was the reason he could not see yet. He also was informed that he had a retinal detachment from the macular and would need surgery once again.
Surgery was performed on this gentleman’s right eye and a bubble was placed in his eye at that time, along with a buckle. The patient was instructed to stay in a face down position for at least 20 hours a day and had to rent a face down chair for assistance in keeping this position as instructed. Follow-up visits continued with this specialist once or twice and week and on many visits he would perform laser surgery on this patient’s right eye.
A few months later during a follow-up visit, the patient was informed that he would need a different procedure to his right eye. This time, the physician would put oil in his eye to try to keep the retina attached. He also removed the lens in the patient’s right eye during this procedure. This was the third surgery to this gentleman’s right eye in three months.
After this latest surgery, the patient was still unable to see out of his right eye and had continued with countless follow-up appointments with this retinal specialist. On some of the visits he would receive additional laser treatments to his right eye.
Finally, after many months of pain, still not being able to see out of his right eye, and never getting an answer to his questions from this retinal specialist, this gentleman made an appointment with a very well-known and well-respected eye institute in the Palm Beach County area for a second opinion and was told that he would never be able to see out of his right eye again, and in some cases the eye can deteriorate to the point that it has to be removed.
Of course, this was devastating news to this patient. He had believed all along that his eyesight would be restored and he could go about his normal daily routine. Now he was faced with the inevitable – that he would never see out of his right eye again – all because the retinal specialist insisted on performing a “little surgery” to his right eye, even though he was not having any noticeable problems with that eye at the time.
This gentleman will now have to continue to perform his job duties as an auto repair specialist at a Bentley, Rolls Royce dealership, even though he can only see out of one eye, because at this point in his life, he is not able to retire.
Hopefully, the insurance company involved in this case will realize that this gentleman has suffered a horrific injury that he will be forced to endure the rest of his life that has been caused solely by the negligence of the retinal specialist involved in this medical malpractice case and provide him with a sufficient settlement in this matter to sustain him through the difficult times ahead.
