LASIK Malpractice
Lack of Informed Consent
Loss of Vision
After the surgical incisions have healed and the surface tissues of the cornea have regenerated, the "lucky" few are candidates for another round of surgery to correct the mistake. Unfortunately, many victims cannot have corrective surgery. (They may have been unsuitable candidates for LASIK correction in the first place.) To make matters worse, they may no longer be able to wear contact lenses. They are simply stuck with poor vision - the same or worse than before — for months, for years or perhaps forever.
Read the rest of this entry »Failure in Follow up Care
You May be Able to Sue for Untreated Post-Surgical Complications After LASIK
Lack of Follow-Up Care Can Result in Serious Post-Surgery Eye Injury
The procedure went fine, or so the doctor said. You are given a prescription for eye drops and sent on your way. For many people who have suffered serious complications of LASIK vision correction or other eye surgeries, that's the last they ever saw of the ophthalmologist who performed the operation.The law firm of Hill & Associates, P.C. will represent clients in medical malpractice lawsuits involving surgical procedures on the eyes (refractive surgery, cataract surgery, cornea transplant). We know that follow-up care is critically important to avoiding adverse outcomes. Medical errors in the surgery itself or unforeseen complications may not surface until days, weeks or months later - but they can often be corrected if discovered and treated promptly.
Read the rest of this entry »Dry Eye Syndrome
Chronic Dry Eye as a LASIK Complication
Dry eyes is the most common side effect of LASIK surgery. For the majority of clients, it is a bothersome but temporary symptom that resolves within weeks of the surgery.
But for a small percentage of patients, the eye's tear function is permanently disrupted. Blinking doesn't help. Eye drops must be constantly applied. Exposure to air can be painful, not to mention dust. Sleep becomes impossible and life miserable. A few have even been driven to suicide.
Read the rest of this entry »Suing for Deceptive Advertising for LASIK
All surgical procedures carry certain risks. Doctors are ethically and legally bound to explain to patients the possible adverse outcomes, even if the risk is remote. They are also required to tell clients of likely outcomes, including short-term issues such as blurred vision, headaches, dry eyes and sensitivity to bright light. Advertising that downplays the risk or maintains that LASIK is "safe" or "low risk" might be considered misrepresentation under Federal Trade Commission rules.
Doctors must also be careful in how the results of LASIK are characterized. They must not promise or imply a particular result such as 20/20 vision or "no side effects" or claim that refractive laser surgery is "100 percent successful." Any such bold claims must be based on unambiguous facts.
If the doctor does not elaborate on advertising claims or follow up to explain in the risks in layman's terms, it can also be considered failure to obtain informed consent, which is grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Read the rest of this entry »Cornea Transplant – Eye Surgery
- Infection in the sutures or beneath the implanted corneal tissue
- Excessive bleeding
- Penetrating too deeply into the stroma (inner layers) of the patient's cornea
- Retinal detachment (the retina separates from the "eyeball")
- Wrinkles or holes in the implanted cornea
- Torn sutures/graft failure
- Uneven healing or excess scarring
Complications of LASIK Eye Surgery
If you are considering having LASIK eye surgery because you have heard about all its wonderful benefits and low side effects, you need to have all the facts before you proceed. What you don't know can hurt you — permanently.
LASIK is not as safe as advertisers would have you believe. Five percent of all patients who undergo LASIK have serious side effects or complications that leave them wishing they never had the surgery. Still, not all bad outcomes of LASIK or other eye surgeries are due to professional negligence. If you have suffered complications or an injury after LASIK contact our law offices today. We know how to investigate cases and discover if you were a victim of eye surgery malpractice.
Read the rest of this entry »Professional Negligence – About Eye Surgery Malpractice Lawsuits
Eye surgeons can be held accountable for injuries and complications that arise from their own negligence or careless mistakes. When you take legal action against a doctor, surgeon, or other medical provider, you must be able to show that your injuries were the cause of their negligence or mistake.
Winning a medical malpractice lawsuit involves proving that there was professional negligence through an act or omission (failing to act appropriately or in accordance with proper standards) by a health care professional...
Read the rest of this entry »Postoperative Negligence
Causes of Postoperative Negligence in Pennsylvania
Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are supposed to follow established standards of care when dealing with patients in post-op. Departures from these postsurgical standards could have serious consequences and may include:
- Failures to prevent or treat infections
- Failure to properly control bleeding
- Not monitoring vital signs appropriately
- Misjudging the effects of anesthesia
- Not administering medications properly
- Respiratory problems resulting from negligence
- Departure from postoperative care instructions
Patients need to be protected during these vulnerable times, and to improve the safety of future patients, it is important to hold negligent medical professionals accountable for their actions or inactions that result in patient injuries or deaths.
Read the rest of this entry »Surgical Errors
Experienced Assistance for Surgical Errors in Pennsylvania
At Hill & Associates, we have worked with clients who have suffered injuries from a wide range of surgical errors, including:
- Surgery on wrong body part or organ
- Surgical equipment that is left in the body
- Gastric bypass errors
- Defective medical implants and other equipment
- Anesthesia errors
- Infections
- Postoperative recovery errors
Many of these errors may not be immediately obvious after the surgery has taken place. Additionally, not all surgical injuries are the result of negligence. You will not know if you have a valid medical malpractice claim unless you talk with an experienced lawyer about your situation. When your injuries were caused by a lack of concentration, improper preparation or a lack of concern for safety, we will hold the surgeons and medical professionals accountable.
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