VISION-RELATED MALPRACTICE INVOLVING PRISONERS: Analysis of the Westlaw Database

To characterize vision-related malpractice litigation involving prisoners.

Retrospective legal database review using the Westlaw database was performed to identify vision-related malpractice lawsuits involving prisoners in the United States from 1914 to 2020. Main outcomes and measurements were allegations of malpractice, verdicts, and settlements.

Sixty-four vision-related malpractice lawsuits involving prisoners were identified. Mean defendant age was 49 years (range, 28-74 years). Fifty-seven percent of the defendants were ophthalmologists and 43% were optometrists. The cases were most commonly from the South and Midwest (n = 19 [30%] for each). Allegations of malpractice included inadequate medical care or treatment refusal (n = 21 [33%]), failure to treat fully leading to continued suffering (n = 18 [28%]), and delay in treatment or referral (n = 17 [27%]). Retina-related diagnoses were most common (n = 18 [28%]). Forty-six (72%) cases were closed, 14 (22%) were open, and four (6.3%) were partially closed. Only two (3.1%) cases were decided in favor of the plaintiff. The most common reason for an unsuccessful suit was lack of deliberate indifference by the eye care professional (n = 21 [46%]).

The most common reasons for vision-related malpractice brought forth by prisoners were inadequate or incomplete eye care and treatment refusal. Retina was the most commonly involved subspecialty. However, the success rate of these suits was extremely low.