Negligent Treatment Causing Impaired Vision

In March 2008 Jon became aware of an irritation in his left eye. After a few days his discomfort was not getting any better, so he attended A&E. He was seen by a nurse before being reviewed by a doctor, who discovered he had a metal fragment in his left eye. The foreign object was then removed from his left eye with a needle.

The hospital instructed Jon to continue caring for his eye at home, and gave him an ointment to use four times a day for two weeks. This ointment was in a cardboard box labelled ‘Chloramphenicol 1%’, but on the tube itself were the words ‘Emla Cream 5%’.

The discrepancy was not queried, and Jon continued to use this ointment for 10 days before returning to hospital complaining there was no improvement to his eye. In fact, Jon’s eye had deteriorated to such an extent that he was unable to drive. It then became apparent that the ointment Jon had been using was in fact Emla Cream 5%, and not Chloramphenicol 1%, the ointment the hospital had intended to give him.

Emla Cream can cause a chemical corneal abrasion, the effects of which are more pronounced if there is already damage to the eye. Because Jon had had a metal fragment removed from his eye, care should have been taken to ensure he was not given Emla Cream, an ointment that could potentially cause permanent damage to his sight.

Due to receiving the wrong type of treatment, Jon was left housebound and was unable to work in his job as a travelling salesman for four weeks. Although he has now returned to work, his eye has not quite returned to normal.

Jon contacted Glynns to discuss whether or not he had been the victim of negligent treatment. We instructed an eye specialist to prepare a report, which confirmed our beliefs that Jon had sustained further injury to his eye as a result of the hospital’s treatment. He received £3,500 compensation.

Can We Help You?

If we can help you to make a claim for compensation, you will benefit from the following funding options:

• Conditional Fees ("no win, no fee")
• Legal Expenses Insurance
• Private Funding
• Structured Payment Plans

Would You Like Assistance from Specialist Negligence Claims Solicitors?

If you would like to benefit from a service of excellence with total commitment to client care from a small and friendly team, Glynns are ready and waiting to help you.

Early legal assistance is essential. Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 or complete our Online Enquiry Form.