Confidential
Settlement – $145,000Facts
On Sept. 7, 1999, the plaintiff, age 64, went to the ophthalmologist to receive a trabeculectomy procedure on her
left eye to arrest plaintiffÆs progressing glaucoma. The procedure required the defendants to administer
anesthesia by way of peribulbar injections in the left lower and upper right quadrants of plaintiffÆs eye socket.
The defendant anesthesiologist was supervising the defendant doctor of osteopathy (a board certified
anesthesiologist) who was participating in an ambulatory anesthesia fellowship at the defendant medical
school. The first injection in the lower left quadrant was successful but the plaintiff complained of pain when
the defendant doctor of osteopathy performed the second injection.
The defendants transferred the plaintiff to the operating area without informing the
ophthalmologist of the complication from the second injection. As the ophthalmologist began the
trabeculectomy procedure, he noted that the plaintiffÆs eye was too soft and called the
defendants into the operating room. The defendants admitted to having elicited some pain during
the injection. The plaintiff was diagnosed as suffering a perforating laceration (retrobulbar) of the
left eye.
Specials in Evidence
$26,000
Injuries
The plaintiff suffered a retinal tear.
Other Information
The case settled at the mandatory settlement conference before Frank Gafkowski Jr.
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