If a clinician fails to periodically move a patient during surgery, the patient can experience devastating effects. In some instances, a patient may have postoperative blindness as a result of continuous pressure on the optic nerve. Commonly, this occurs in spinal surgery cases, which are often very long procedures where a patient is forced to remain on his or her chest for an extended period of time. Lying face down for this extended period of time without being moved decreases the amount of oxygen carried to the brain, which can negatively affect the optic nerve leading to a loss of vision.
In addition, patients with the following conditions have an increased risk of postoperative blindness:
- Diabetes;
- A history of smoking;
- A history of hypertension; and
- Obesity
In the event that you or a loved one experienced postoperative blindness, it may have resulted from a medical error and may be grounds for a negligence claim. Healthcare negligence occurs when a clinician fails to meet the accepted standard of care, resulting in injury to the patient. A plaintiff must show that the clinician failed to provide the generally accepted standard of care that a reasonably prudent healthcare professional would have provided and that this failure caused the plaintiff’s injuries. In New York State, a victim of postoperative blindness resulting from a medical error may be entitled to recover damages for their injuries. This may include compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses;
- Pain and suffering;
- Rehabilitation; and
- Lost wages, among others.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of a medical error resulting in postoperative blindness, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to pursue the compensation you may be entitled to. Goldberg Sager & Associates has experience handling personal injury cases involving negligence and is dedicated to helping clients achieve the best possible outcome. Contact the attorneys at Goldberg Sager & Associates at 718-645-6677 for a free phone consultation.
