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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Patient Blames Kaiser Care for Eye Hemorrhage

BALTIMORE (CN) - A woman's vision in her right eye remains impaired 15 months after cataract surgery resulted in a hemorrhage and blood clot that required removal of the inside of her eye, she claims in a complaint against Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group filed in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Before the surgery, Kaiser doctors Lazaros Volikas and Emil Thattassery evaluated plaintiff Marion Strachan, the complaint says. Volikas did the surgery and noted "tears," according to the complaint.

Over the next week, Mrs. Strachan experienced worsening symptoms including "hazy/foggy vision," bleeding under the cornea, and worsening of eye pressure, according to the complaint. Dr. Volikas referred her to (non-party) Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Clinic.

When (non-party) Dr. Esen Akpek examined her at the clinic, "there was no view of the right pupil due to the hemorrhage," and there was no view through the pupil, from within her eye, upon dilation, according to the complaint.

During a follow-up, Dr. Akpek brought in Dr. David Baranano for an emergency consultation, and both agreed Mrs. Strachan needed further surgery to remove a blood clot, wash the blood from under her cornea, and remove a replacement lens and pieces of her own lens, the complaint states. During the surgery three days later, "a giant retinal tear was noted which was also repaired. Her right eye vision is count fingers at 2 feet," according to the complaint.

"Mrs. Strachan continues to receive medical treatment from the Wilmer Eye Clinic. Her right eye vision remains poor," the complaint says.

The complaint states that Dr. Volikas should have appreciated the risk of the surgery; sought specialist consultation earlier; remove the middle of her eye (vitreous gel) when complications occurred; dilated her eye "on post-operative day one" to check her vision; and acted "appropriately in other ways."

Mrs. Strachan sued for medical malpractice and her husband John sued for loss of consortium.

They are represented by Paul Bekman and Wendy Shiff of Salsbury, Clements, Bekman, Marder & Adkins in Baltimore.

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