Learn what a cataract is and how a doctor can be liable when a patient suffers complications from treatment.
A cataract is a medical condition in which the lens of your eye becomes cloudy. It can blur your vision, making it seem as though you are viewing the world through a fogged-up window. It is not a deadly or particularly dangerous condition in and of itself, but its detrimental effects on your vision can make certain activities riskier — for instance, driving, bicycling, or using stairways.
Getting rid of a cataract requires a specific type of surgery. While the procedure is common and relatively safe, complications are always a possibility. If a complication occurs because of the negligence of a doctor or one of his or her staff members, and this complication leads to an injury, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Common Symptoms of Cataracts
Most cataracts start small and slowly grow over time. It is rare to wake up one morning and have completely clouded-over vision from a cataract. In most cases, you will notice one or more of the following symptoms gradually appear:
- Clouded, blurred, or dimmed vision
- Decreased night vision
- Increased sensitivity to light and glare
- Difficulty reading in dim lights
- Seeing halos around lights
- Changes in contacts or glasses prescription
- Not seeing colors sharply
- Double vision in one eye
Following the diagnosis of a cataract, your doctor should go over your options with you. If he or she recommends surgery, he or she has a duty of informed consent—the requirement to explain all the risks to you and make sure you understand them fully.
If your doctor does not fulfill this duty of informed consent and something goes wrong during surgery, even if it is not the doctor’s fault or a result of negligence, he or she may be liable for medical malpractice because you would have lacked the information needed to make an educated decision about having surgery.
Cataract Surgery and Medical Malpractice
Even if your doctor reviews the risks of surgery with you, it does not absolve him or her of blame in situations of negligence. If you suffered complications from cataract surgery, a medical malpractice attorney can investigate your injury and advise you on whether you may be entitled to compensation.
If the evidence reveals the following four conditions, you have grounds to pursue medical malpractice damages:
- The doctor owed you a duty of care (all doctors owe this duty to their patients);
- The doctor did not uphold his or her duty of care (by behaving negligently or below professional standards);
- You suffered an injury because of the doctor’s negligence;
- You incurred economic or non-economic damages because of your injury.
Call 888-526-8947 for a Free Medical Malpractice Evaluation
The attorneys at Newsome | Melton are eager to help you recover medical malpractice damages from your doctor for injuries suffered during cataract surgery. For a free case evaluation with a member of our staff, call 888-526-8947.
Cataract - Frequently Asked Questions
Medical expert witness testimony is required for all malpractice cases in Florida. Only someone who meets the requirements established in F.S. §766.202(6) legally qualifies as a medical expert witness in Florida. The statute requires that a medical expert witness must: Regularly practice in their field; Hold a professional degree from a university or college; and
Read More
In a medical malpractice case, the compensation you might qualify for is similar to the possible settlements in other personal injury cases. The damages you can recover in a medical malpractice case will depend on the losses you suffered. For help identifying your damages, contact the attorneys at Newsome | Melton at 1-855-MED-ASKS today. We offer free
Read MoreCataract - News Articles
Two years ago, Michael Holmes was told by his doctors at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond Virginia that his left carotid artery was blocked and needed to be cleared out. A few months later he underwent the routine vascular surgery, which typically takes around one-hour to complete. But something went terribly
Read More
Stephanie Hollingsworth is used to sudden bursts of intense pain. She suffers from vasculitis, an autoimmune disease, and one of the symptoms is blood vessel inflammation causing severe muscle and joint pain. But one day in 2008, the suffering became unbearable. On November 21, ulcerations had formed on her feet and the aching in her
Read More