According to a study published in the Archives of Surgery in 2009, the highest rate of incorrect procedures within the operating room involves ophthalmology cases.
According to a study published in the Archives of Surgery in 2009, the highest rate of incorrect procedures within the operating room involves ophthalmology cases.
The study revealed that 1.8 adverse events were reported out of every 10,000, which is higher than any other surgical specialty. Recent studies have found that roughly 440,000 people in the United States are killed each year due to hospital, physician or nurse errors.
Ophthalmology is a field that involves medical conditions and diseases of the eye and treatment of those conditions and diseases. Ophthalmologists are medical professionals who study in a medical school and go through 4 years of residency training after they graduate. Their specialty may be in certain parts of the eye’s anatomy such as the cornea, or in certain eye diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma.
Treatments may involve prescribing drugs, performing surgery or prescribing corrective lenses. Some common forms of Ophthalmological malpractice include:
- Delayed diagnosis or failure to diagnose – When an ophthalmologist does not diagnose a condition or disease early or fails to diagnose it, it can cause irreversible damage that results in total or partial loss of vision. It could also lead to the need for additional procedures that you would not have required if the condition or disease has been diagnosed early.
- Delayed treatment or failure to provide treatment – When a diagnosis is made, but treatment does not happen or is delayed, it is likely that your eye problem will get worse. This may cause you to lose some or all of your vision.
- Failure to consult an expert – There are cases where a patient has a condition that the doctor does not have the expertise to handle alone. A qualified doctor must be able to recognize when they need outside expertise and should make sure that the patient consults another professional who has the knowledge and experience required to treat that particular condition. If your ophthalmologist fails to do this, failure to consult another expert may fall under malpractice.
- Surgical errors – Perhaps the most common types of ophthalmological surgery error involve LASIK surgery or cataract surgery. Eye surgery is a delicate procedure and if something goes wrong, you could experience total, or significant, blindness.
- Medication errors – When an ophthalmologist does not prescribe the correct medication or the correct dose, you could experience unpleasant and painful side effects. It could also cause your underlying condition to worsen.
In cases of ophthalmology malpractice, you should make sure that you hire an experienced attorney who specializes in such cases. This type of malpractice involves complex legal and medical procedures and terms, and is more than likely to require expert testimony. A lawyer will be able to handle every aspect of your case without any problems or delays.
Winning Your Case
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of ophthalmology malpractice, you must seek the help of a medical malpractice attorney at the reputed Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212-344-1000. The first meeting is free. Give us a call. That is the one thing we cannot for you.
We have successfully earned millions and millions of dollars for past clients. Give us a call. Your name can be attached to this list.
