Miami eye center ordered to pay patient $13M following cataract surgery complications

A Miami jury ordered Leon Medical Centers to pay a patient, Miguel Diaz, $13 million after the patient suffered cataract surgery complications, according to Miami Herald.

Here are four things to know:

1. In a suit, Mr. Diaz alleges an ophthalmologist, Jonathan Leon-Rosen, MD, blinded him in his right eye. Mr. Diaz underwent cataract surgery Sept. 10, 2013. Following the surgery, he had pain in his right eye and asked Dr. Leon-Rosen about the pain. Dr. Leon-Rosen told Mr. Diaz and Mr. Diaz's spouse that he injected an antibiotic, Gentamicin, into Mr. Diaz's eye and did not elaborate any further.

2. The suit claims the ophthalmologist injected the wrong type of Gentamicin into Mr. Diaz's eye, as providers should apply Gentamicin topically on the eye's surface.

3. Mr. Fix filed a suit in Miami-Dade Circuit Court against Leon Medical Centers. The Miami Herald reports Leon Medical Centers said Dr. Leon-Rosen was an independent contractor, as opposed to a staff physician. The jury found although Dr. Leon-Rosen was on contract, the clinic had "acted as though he was an employee." Therefore, the jury ordered Leon Medical Centers pay Mr. Diaz and his spouse $13 million.

4. In a statement Leon Medical Centers said, "While we are pleased that the jury correctly concluded that there was no negligence on the part of Leon Medical Centers, we are disappointed that the effect of their decision is to hold Leon Medical Centers liable for the actions of an independently contracted ophthalmologist group."

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