Medical Malpractice May Cost You Your Sight

Medical malpractice can have life-altering consequences, especially regarding eye-related procedures and treatments. The eyes are delicate organs, and any negligence or error during medical care can lead to severe and irreversible damage.  

Medical malpractice is a term for negligence lawsuits brought against healthcare professionals who harm their patients due to a negligent act or a failure to take proper action. The optometrist who checks your vision and tries to determine if you have an eye-related condition or an ophthalmologist who performs eye surgeries could potentially be defendants in a medical malpractice lawsuit. 

What Are Some Types of Eye-Related Medical Malpractice? 

Medical malpractice can occur in many forms, including: 

• Surgical Errors: Mistakes made during eye surgeries, such as LASIK or cataract procedures, can lead to vision impairment or loss. 
• Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: Failing to diagnose eye conditions like glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy promptly or misdiagnosing them can cause a delay in treatment and worsen your condition. 
• Medication Errors: Administering or prescribing the wrong medications or incorrect dosages can cause adverse effects on your eyes, vision, or general health. 
• Inadequate Informed Consent: You must give informed consent before a procedure occurs. If you’re not adequately informed about the potential risks and complications associated with a procedure and one of them occurs, you may have a medical malpractice case.

Medical malpractice cases are driven by their unique facts. Not all mistakes or omissions by a medical professional are medical malpractice. If you think an eye care professional’s grave mistake is impacting your vision, call our office so we can discuss your situation. 

How Can Eye Care Malpractice Affect My Life? 

Vision loss or impairment can impact your ability to work, drive, and perform daily activities. The emotional toll of losing or experiencing a decline in vision can also be significant, affecting your mental health and overall quality of life. It will take a toll on you if you can no longer see a spouse, child, or grandchild or fully enjoy a wide range of experiences. 

How Can I Prove My Case? 

Proving negligence requires a thorough understanding of both medical and legal principles. Expert testimony from ophthalmologists or eye care specialists is often crucial in establishing the standard of care, demonstrating how it was breached, how you were injured, and the impact on your sight. 

What Might I Recover? 

A successful medical malpractice claim may result in compensation for: 

• Medical expenses: Past and expected future costs related to corrective treatments or ongoing care 
• Lost wages: Compensation for income lost due to your inability or decreased capacity to work. This can include what you’ve lost in the past and what’s reasonably expected in the future 
• Pain and suffering: Non-economic damages to address the emotional and physical toll of the malpractice 

The burden would be on you to prove these damages. Supporting evidence can include medical records, employment records, expert testimony, your testimony, and the testimony of your friends and family. 

Jeffrey R. Davis Is Here to Help You 

The last thing you expect from getting eye care is that your vision is worse, you’re in pain, or your ability to work or enjoy your life is substantially impaired. Malpractice may result from many things, including carelessness, lack of professional skill, disregard for established rules, or even criminal intent.  

If you believe you’re the victim of a failure to meet professional standards, contact medical malpractice lawyer Jeffrey R. Davis today. Don’t hesitate because the statute of limitations may prevent your ability to seek justice and compensation.