Figueroa v. Vose

874 F. Supp. 500, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19599, 1994 WL 749420
CourtDistrict Court, D. Rhode Island
DecidedSeptember 13, 1994
DocketCiv. A. 92-0629L
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 874 F. Supp. 500 (Figueroa v. Vose) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Figueroa v. Vose, 874 F. Supp. 500, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19599, 1994 WL 749420 (D.R.I. 1994).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

LOVEGREEN, United States Magistrate Judge.

In this matter brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, plaintiff, a state prisoner, asks the court to decide that his post-operative medical care provided or supervised by these defendants following eye surgery on November 10, 1992 does not meet the requirements of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.

This matter was referred to me for all further proceedings and entry of judgment pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and the consent of the parties. Trial was held on July 21, 1994 and August 24, 1994.

Background

On November 18, 1992, plaintiff, Bernardo Figueroa (“Figueroa”), filed this complaint alleging a violation of his constitutional rights. Specifically, Figueroa alleges that he has been denied prescribed medications and follow-up care after his eye surgery of November 10, 1992. Defendants are George A. Vose, Jr. (“Vose”), Director of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (“DOC”), Joseph Marocco (“Maroceo”), Health Care Administrator for DOC, Dr. Tej Bansal (“Bansal”), a staff physician for DOC, Rose M. DiGuilio (“DiGuilio”), a staff nurse for DOC, and Marion Brown (“Brown”), also a staff nurse for DOC. Defendants are sued in their individual capacities.

Plaintiff alleges that pribr to November 10, 1992 he suffered from an eye condition known as pterygium 1 . On November 10, 1992, he was transported by DOC personnel to the Rhode Island Hospital (“RIH”) where he underwent a procedure known as pterygi-um excision of the right eye. The surgery was performed by Dr. Daniel Petashnick and Dr. Joseph Dowling. Following the surgery, plaintiff was prescribed Maxitrol ointment and Tylenol #3. He was returned to the Adult Correctional Institutions (“ACI”) where Dr. Chang, an ACI staff physician, provided a telephone order recorded by defendant DiGuilio for Tylenol #3 every 4 hours for 24 hours. The parties do not dispute that this medication is used to control pain. Maxitrol ointment had been placed in plaintiffs right eye at surgery and an eye dressing was placed over the eye with instructions not to remove it until plaintiff was seen the following morning. All parties agree that Maxitrol ointment contains an antibiotic and is used to prevent infection.

On November 11, 1992, plaintiff was seen at the RIH Eye Clinic by Dr. Petashnik who prescribed Maxitrol ointment for the right eye four times per day. On November 12, 1992, Dr. Bansal ordered Maxitrol ointment for plaintiff four times per day and regular Tylenol tabs four times per day when necessary.

Plaintiff returned to the RIH Eye Clinic on November 16, 1992. At that time, Dr. Petashnik continued the order for Maxitrol ointment and added Lacrilube and artificial tears four times per day. Plaintiff was given samples. On November 23, 1992, plaintiff was again seen at the RIH Eye Clinic and his vision was determined to be 20/20, and the right eye was healing well. Dr. Petash-nik ordered a continuation of the Maxitrol ointment, Lacrilube and tears. On November 24, 1992, a telephone order was received from Dr. Vorasingha, an ACI staff physician, and recorded by defendant DiGuilio. This order was for a continuation of Maxitrol four times per day and for Hypo Tears four times per day. On December 11, 1992, Maxitrol *502 ointment and artificial tears were again ordered four times per day for 10 days by the DOC medical staff and plaintiff was referred to the RIH Eye Clinic. On December 17, 1992, plaintiff was seen at the RIH Eye Clinic where he complained he did not receive Maxitrol ointment the previous week. Dr. Petashnik again found plaintiffs vision to be 20/20 and that the right eye was “healed well” without evidence of any recurrence. Figueroa was released from care to return only as necessary. Dr. Petashnik did not order any further medications.

Plaintiff returned to the RIH Eye Clinic on April 20, 1993 complaining of irritation in his right eye. There was a small recurrence of pterygium. The plaintiff was prescribed Naphcon A eye drops and Dr. Petashnik stated he needed eyeglasses.

During early 1993, plaintiff was being treated by the ACI medical staff for dry skin and a left ankle condition. On April 6, 1993, Dr. Bansal again ordered artificial tears and Laerilube four times per day for plaintiffs right eye. This order was repeated on May 3, 1993 for 30 days. On May 20, 1993, plaintiff was referred to the ACI staff optometrist, Dr. Harrison Smiley, for a vision check which occurred on May 27, 1993. Dr. Smiley examined plaintiffs eyes and found vision in the right eye to be poor at 20/50 and in the left eye to be normal at 20/20. He opined that he did not feel eyeglasses were indicated as they would not help plaintiffs vision deficit.

The ACI medical staff continued to order artificial tears and Naphcon A eye drops to be given four times per day and referred plaintiff to the RIH Eye Clinic on October 7, 1993.

Plaintiff was seen at the RIH Eye Clinic on November 5, 1993. At that time plaintiff was noted to have the same vision defect in his right eye with the same recommendation for eyeglasses. In addition, plaintiff had developed an eyebrow lesion over his right eye unrelated to his prior pterygium condition. Lastly, plaintiff was noted to have pterygium in his left eye but this was asymptomatic. A referral for a dermatology consult for the eyebrow lesion was recommended. The DOC medical staff did refer plaintiff to the Regan Skin Clinic on November 18,1993, but due to scheduling conflicts, plaintiff was not seen until February 14, 1994. At that time, Dr. Alper diagnosed the problem as sebor-rheic dermatitis/eczema and prescribed Nizo-ral cream and Hytone Lotion 2.5% twice per day for 30 days.

On plaintiffs return to the ACI, the medical staff ordered these medications for plaintiff, but, for some unexplained reason, the medications were not provided to plaintiff at that time. Plaintiff was again seen at the Regan Skin Clinic on April 18, 1994 shortly after plaintiff began receiving his prescribed creams. Plaintiffs condition was “better,” and Dr. Alper prescribed a continuation of the creams. Plaintiff was seen again at the Regan Skin Clinic on May 23,1994 where Dr. Alper found the lesion “worse” and recommended referral to an ophthalmologist for a biopsy. He also continued the use of Hytone lotion 2.5% twice per day. On that day, plaintiff was referred to the Surgical Clinic by the DOC medical staff (Dr. Bansal), and on June 8,1994, plaintiff was scheduled to be seen at the RIH Eye Clinic for the biopsy. Due to lack of transportation, plaintiff was not seen. Another appointment was scheduled for June 10,1994, but this also had to be cancelled because of medical emergencies at the ACI. Plaintiff was seen at the RIH Eye Clinic on June 14, 1994, and the physician stated “no area to biopsy per ophthalmic etiology. F/U with dermatology if does not heal.” There are no further records from either the RIH Eye Clinic or the Regan Skin Clinic.

On July 15, 1994, Dr. Bansal examined plaintiff and ordered continuation of the Hy-tone lotion.

In November, 1993, DOC provided plaintiff with eyeglasses even though there was a dispute between Dr.

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Bluebook (online)
874 F. Supp. 500, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19599, 1994 WL 749420, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/figueroa-v-vose-rid-1994.