Mum sues over sight
‘Months to find baby’s cataracts’
A MOTHER whose baby lost her sight is taking legal action against doctors who allegedly failed to diagnose her with congenital cataracts at birth.
Talisha Meoli claimed her daughter Wyntah McGarvey, born in August last year, was now at least partially and permanently blind in both of her eyes, allegedly as a result of a delayed diagnosis by Gold Coast University Hospital and Medicross Coomera staff.
She alleges she voiced her concerns before she left hospital and then at Wyntah’s seven-day check at Medicross Coomera.
However, it is alleged it wasn’t until about three months of age that GCUH doctors diagnosed Wyntah, now eight months old, with congenital cataracts. The condition is generally picked up straight after birth and the best way to reduce any vision impairment is through surgery before six or 10 weeks of age, it is alleged. Ms Meoli claims she noticed something odd with Wyntah’s eyes before she left the hospital.
The baby’s eyes did not focus properly and she seemed dazed, it is alleged.
“She was never looking at me ... (even) when I was breastfeeding her,” she said.
“My other daughter would look at me all the time.”
Ms Meoli said her partner had been forced to work night shifts as she could not work.
She said the family was not eligible to receive Centrelink payments because Wyntah was not considered “disabled enough”.
Wyntah had surgery on both eyes in December, one week apart, but will need more surgery once she is two years old. She would also need to undergo “pupil stretching” because they will not dilate.
Ms Meoli’s solicitor, medical law expert Clare Eves of Shine Lawyers, said these medical incidents were not uncommon.
“Despite the extensive training doctors receive, and the billions of dollars being poured into our health care system, patients are still being dismissed by GPs or sent home from hospitals when it is not safe to do so,” she said.
A Gold Coast Health spokeswoman said they had received a claim under the Personal Injuries Proceeding Act, but were unable to provide further comment while the matter was being dealt with.
Medicross Coomera did not reply to requests for comment.