MEDICO-LEGAL CLAIMS IN INTRAOCULAR-LENS IMPLANT CASES

In 11 of 22 medicolegal claims involving intraocular lens implants, the medical care given to the patients was judged to be substandard, whereas this was true in only 19 of 110 (17.3%) ophthalmic claims not involvng intraocular lenses. The major reason for this difference was that the intraocular lenses were implanted in cases where they were not indicated. Also, many of these patients had relatively good vision before the surgery and were more likely to sue if the results were poor.