Vincent Nagler recently obtained a defense verdict for an anesthesiologist in a case tried before Justice James Quinn Supreme Court, Suffolk County. Our client performed a regional peribulbar block on the plaintiff, a corneal transplant recipient, who was undergoing subsequent cataract surgery. During the administration of the block the corneal transplant dehisced, and the cataract with lens was expulsed through the dehiscence. The plaintiff claimed a loss of usable vision from the affected eye.
The plaintiff argued there was a negligent administration of the block and lack of informed consent. The defense focused on the lack of foreseeability of the unanticipated complication.
The jury agreed that there was no departure from the standard of care and that informed consent was properly obtained.
