The United States Food and Drug Administration reports that approximately 600,000 Lasik procedures are performed each year in the United States. While the procedure is generally safe, the reality is that mistakes do happen. Some of these mistakes can lead to long-term, even permanent harm to a patient. If you have suffered an eye injury due to a Lasik error, you need to consult a skilled Baltimore ophthalmology malpractice lawyer who can assess the facts of your case.
Earlier this year, a Baltimore man sued the Lasik Vision Institute and one of its physicians for medical malpractice after getting surgery that left him with permanent damage in both eyes. Specifically, the plaintiff alleged that the doctor mistakenly programmed the laser and doubled the plaintiff’s astigmatism in his left eye during his Lasik procedure. The plaintiff claims that he later found out that he was not a good candidate for Lasik eye surgery, due to a lazy right eye.
At his initial consultation, the plaintiff was informed that he was a good candidate for the Lasik procedure, since he did not have prior eye conditions that would preclude him from having the procedure. Once the plaintiff underwent the procedure, he was not able to see. At his follow up appointment, he was told his symptoms were part of the normal healing process. When the condition did not get better, the plaintiff ultimately had to go through a second, corrective surgery.
The second procedure did not correct the problem. The plaintiff then consulted a different ophthalmologist, who advised him not to have any future corrective eye surgery and that his only option now was to have a special lens implanted in his eye, an extremely costly procedure. The plaintiff filed a claim against the initial Lasik surgeon and is seeking compensation for his harm. His wife is seeking damages for loss of consortium, a claim for damages suffered by the spouse or family member of a person who has been injured due to someone else’s negligence.
If a surgeon made a mistake during a Lasik procedure that caused your eye problem, you also might be able to seek compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit. Of course, not every adverse health outcome can be attributed to medical malpractice. Surgery can have unintended results, even if the surgeon was extremely cautious and competent. Instead, medical malpractice in Lasik surgery cases takes place when a surgeon fails to use the level of care that another reasonably prudent surgeon would have used in the same situation. In the case at hand, the surgeon had improperly programmed the Lasik laser. A reasonably prudent surgeon would not have made such a mistake, understanding the risk of harm it could cause to the patient. As a result, the surgeon will likely be liable for the resulting harm.
If you or someone close to you has been injured by an ophthalmologist’s error, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At Arfaa Law Group, our seasoned Baltimore ophthalmology negligence attorneys understand how to navigate these complex cases. For more information, feel free to call 410-889-1850 or contact us online.
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