Misdiagnosis costs eye doctor $2 million

Kim Smith

Thursday, April 27, 2000 | 11:57 a.m.

A Clark County jury awarded a Las Vegas woman $2 million Tuesday after deciding an opthamologist's negligence caused her to lose the sight in one of her eyes.

The jury found that Dr. Kurt Buzard misdiagnosed and improperly treated an eye condition suffered by Susie Ruppert in August 1992, said John Moran Jr., who, along with Andrew M. Leavitt, represented Ruppert.

The jury heard testimony over the course of one week and deliberated three hours before rendering their verdict Tuesday night, Moran said.

Buzard, who runs the Buzard Eye Institute for Corneal and Refractive Surgery, was represented by attorney James Pico.

Pico did not return phone calls seeking comment.

According to court records, Ruppert, 52, first visited Buzard on Aug. 14, 1992, complaining of a red, swollen and sore left eye. Buzard told Ruppert she had herpes keratitis and prescribed steroids for her.

Ruppert went back to the doctor three more times over the next month, each time complaining that she was still in severe pain and was going blind, court documents say. In each instance, Buzard kept Ruppert on the steroids and told her he would have to keep "experimenting" in order to find the correct treatment.

Ultimately, Ruppert went to California where she was diagnosed with acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare chronic infection of the cornea, Moran said.

Ruppert underwent three surgeries, but ended up losing her sight, Moran said.

Court documents indicate that if the condition is caught within the first month, there is an 83 percent success rate in its treatment. They also indicate that steroids actually worsen the condition.

Moran said doctors believe Ruppert contracted the parasite that causes the condition in a swimming pool.

The $2 million is a fair settlement, Moran said.

"We're very pleased with the jury, we feel the jury absolutely did the right thing," Moran said.

Kim Smith covers courts for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-2321 or by e-mail at kimberly@lasvegassun.com.