Jerry Medlin, 60, underwent cataract surgery in his left eye. The surgery was completed by an ophthalmologist, Dr. Timothy Young. During the surgery, Dr. Young called for VisionBlue, a staining solution used in cataract surgeries. A nurse during surgery tried unsuccessfully to retrieve the solution from the hospital’s automated medication dispensing system. She then typed “blue” into the system, which gave her the option to receive Methylene Blue.
The nurse took the Methylene Blue to the operating room and told the doctor that she had the drug. A technologist also announced the name of the same drug and then drew up a syringe, which Dr. Young injected into Medlin’s eye.
Medlin suffered toxic anterior segment syndrome. Despite a corneal grafting procedure, Medlin is now blind in his left eye. He filed a lawsuit against the hospital, Dr. Young and his practice, claiming negligent administration of a toxic substance. The lawsuit did not claim lost income.
The jury returned a verdict in favor of Medlin in the amount of $1,500,000; applying North Carolina’s accrued interest law, the verdict with interest that had accrued during the litigation rose to almost $2 million. The attorney representing Medlin was Bill Faison.
Medlin v. N.C. Spec. Hospital, LLC, No. 2011-CVS-001525 (N.C. Super. Ct. Durham County, Aug. 19, 2014).
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical negligence cases, hospital negligence cases and birth injury lawsuits for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 38 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills, Sauk Village, Richton Park, Park Forest, Hazelcrest, Hanover Park, Harvey, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Orland Hills, Olympia Fields, Forest Park, Countryside and Buffalo Grove, Ill.
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