Glaucoma--a clinicolegal review.
BACKGROUND
Glaucoma is a leading cause of professional liability claims involving eye care practitioners. Reasons for litigation include the severe loss of vision that can result if the disease goes undetected and the variety of legal theories-breach of informed consent, negligence, and product liability-under which a practitioner may be held liable.


METHODS
Leading cases and claims are reviewed to describe the variety of clinical situations in which glaucoma-related lawsuits have been successfully alleged.


RESULTS
Eye care practitioners are most likely to be charged with failure to diagnose open-angle glaucoma, but failure to warn patients of suspicious findings and adverse effects of antiglaucoma medications are also significant causes of liability claims.
Classé
J G
JG
School of Optometry University of Alabama at Birmingham 95294, USA.
D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009907:Optometry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular