Having poor eyesight or conditions like retina, or glaucoma or cataract problems causes difficulties in life. The best solution to all of these problems is eye surgery. However, due to the negligence of the surgeons, the patients can face serious problems. Eye surgery may be a better option for the treatment of various eye conditions. Surgeries like LASIK and PRK are permanent solutions for treating eye problems. Our eyes play an important part in our lives. Sometimes the doctors whom we trust so much about our problems can create serious problems while diagnosing. In other words, doctors can be negligent while treating a patient which could lead to eye injuries. Such patients have the right to claim for medical compensation to recover the damages. It is during these times when an eye surgery expert witness plays a crucial role. Patients can claim damages like medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Common malpractice cases in eye surgeries:
There is a sharp rise in the number of medical malpractice cases. The malpractice cases take place because of the following reasons:
- Wrong diagnosis– This can also be known as misdiagnosis. The doctor should be able to find out the eye problems while routine checkup of the patient. If he is unable to find any issue, the doctor should suggest lab tests to find out the main problems. This is important because it helps the doctor to suggest the right treatment. For minor cases, the patient might get treated with medications, while some problems may require surgery. However, malpractice can happen when the doctor prescribes unnecessary surgery or wrong medications. In such situations, the patient should take help from an attorney. The lawyer will seek legal guidance from an expert ophthalmologist witness to understand the case facts and most importantly, to find out if there is a case of malpractice.
- Surgical errors– Most of the malpractice cases take place because of surgical errors. Some of the main malpractice cases happen when the surgeon operates the wrong eye, or if the doctor may use obsolete equipment, giving way to eye infection. Mistakes can happen when the doctor fails to provide adequate pre-operative and post-operative care.
- Infections– People who have undergone eye surgery should be extra careful. This is applicable both for the doctors as well as the patients. Eyes are delicate organs of our body and it is highly susceptible to infections. Eye infections can spread very easily to other parts of the body and this is one of the reasons why the surgeons need to be very careful while giving post-operative treatment.
These are some of the top reasons why the numbers of malpractice cases is rising so abruptly. Patients have the right to seek compensation for all the damages caused to them due to wrong treatment or surgical error. But to make the case strong, taking consultation from an attorney is a must. The case has to be grave enough so that the negligence can be proved. For this purpose, an attorney will call upon cataract, glaucoma, or retina surgery expert witness as the case may be for seeking medico-legal guidance.