How Can Medical Malpractice Cause Blindness? October 5, 2012.

A Cleveland medical malpractice attorney from Mellino Law Firm discusses two major ways Ohio residents can fall victim to a doctors’ or other medical staff’s negligent behaviors during surgery and diagnosis that can result in blindness.

Eye Surgery

As you may suspect, eye surgery is a delicate procedure. The clear covering on the front of the eye, known as the cornea, likely will be cut during even the most common eye surgeries such as cataract removal or LASIK.

It is the doctor’s responsibility to ensure the patient undergoing the surgery is a good candidate for eye surgery. Screening patients for pre-existing conditions that could cause complications is essential. A physician who clears a patient without a thorough analysis of a patient’s medical history and current physical health may be found negligent in a claim if the patient goes blind after undergoing eye surgery.

Misdiagnosis

A dangerous form of malpractice in the medical field is misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose a serious condition.

For example, a common illness that can cause blindness if missed is diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy may be related to an untreated case of diabetes. A doctor’s failure to properly diagnosis and treat a patient with diabetes may be subject to medical negligence and held liable for the injuries that have ensued.

Consult a Cleveland Medical Malpractice Attorney

Physicians who negligently or recklessly treat their patients should be held accountable for their actions, especially when a permanent condition like blindness occurs. For more than 20 years, Cleveland patients have relied on the attorneys at Mellino Law Firm, LLC to fight for their just compensation. For immediate help, give us a call at (440) 333-3800.