Woman says physician's misdiagnosis caused blindness

CHARLESTON – A woman who allegedly went blind after her physician misdiagnosed her is suing the physician for her injuries.

On May 8, 2012, Betty Joanne Bailey says she presented to Dr. Michael Gray Nunley with complaints of headache and blurred vision that came and went and lasted approximately 15 minutes. Nunley diagnosed her with visual migraines, even though she did not have a history of migraines, according to a complaint filed May 1 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Bailey claims nine days later, she presented to Charleston Area Medical Center with complaints of blindness in both eyes with a history of a four-day severe headache that began behind her right eye and right temple ad was accompanied by blurry vision. She claims her pain subsided and she woke up blind in both eyes.

CAMC diagnosed Bailey with temporal arteritis and immediately started her on a high dose of steroids, but her blindness is permanent, according to the suit.

Bailey claims Nunley’s delay in diagnosing her caused her to be permanently blind and the defendant acted negligently, carelessly, willfully and wantonly and/or with a reckless disregard of risk of harm to her.

As a direct and proximate result of Nunley’s negligence, carelessness, recklessness and deviation from the appropriate standard of care, Bailey suffered temporary and permanent bodily injuries; physical pain and mental anguish; disfigurement and deformities; medical expenses; humiliation and embarrassment; and an impairment of her capacity to enjoy life, according to the suit.

Bailey is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Matthew C. Lindsay and Richard D. Lindsay of Tabor Lindsay & Associates.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 13-C-845