By C1 Staff
SCRANTON, Pa. — An inmate who was denied cataract surgery is suing the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections over what he calls the DOC’s ‘one good eye’ policy.
Richard Hollihan was denied a second cataract surgery, which he claims doctors have been recommending he undergo since 2008. His first surgery was in 2001, reports Courthouse News.
The cataract in his left eye “prevents the detection of retinal disease and optic nerve health.” He says he has trouble reading and writing and often walks into people and objects. He’s also limited in his ability to perform manual tasks.
“On information and belief, defendant DOC has adopted an official policy and practice that denies necessary surgical treatment to inmates with a severe eye disease in one eye, but with another eye that provides some level of vision that defendant DOC claims to be adequate,” the suit states. “This policy is referred to as the ‘One Good Eye’ policy.
“As a consequence of defendant DOC’s ‘One Good Eye’ policy, inmates are denied necessary surgical treatment for cataracts and other conditions and are forced to languish with serious eye conditions, which can cause legal or total blindness in the diseased eye.”
“Reducing expenditures by denying necessary medical care is not an appropriate justification for the ‘One Good Eye’ policy,” the suit continues.
There are allegedly four exceptions to the policy: if the inmate’s vision tests at 20/50 or worse, despite corrective devices; if there is a potential for undetected retinal disease; if the cataract is hypermature; or if the inmate’s activities are “significantly compromised” and cannot be corrected by eyeglasses or lighting.
Hollihan claims the department does not even follow these guidelines, refusing medical care to inmates “including those who have a hypermature cataract in one eye and vision that is worse [sic] than 20/50 in the better seeing eye.”
In addition to the DOC, two prison officials, Wexford Health Sources, and three doctors are also listed as defendants.