The trial has started of the Dutch ophthalmologist Franciscus Versteeg who ran the I-QMed clinic in Lagoa’s business park.
Versteeg is accused of causing physical harm due to negligence and four of his former patients are looking for compensation totalling around €200,000.
In 2010, four of Versteeg’s patients underwent eye surgery and all later suffered serious infection resulting in partial blindness for three and total blindness for one.
Versteeg is accused of not properly disinfecting his equipment before the operations took place at the I-QMed clinic in Lagoa.
Dr Versteeg has remained in Holland due to 'financial constraints' and is being represented in Portimão court by a nominated lawyer. The news of Versteeg's poverty caused dismay for those of his patients left with partial or zero sight.
Also being prosecuted is Reinaldo Bartolomeu who assisted Versteeg at the clinic and who is charged with carrying out work while not waering gloves and hence putting patients at risk of infection.
According to the prosecution, Dr. Versteeg did not carry out proper disinfection and cleaning of the premises and operating area when he carried out surgery in July 2010.
Instruments were not properly sterilised and Versteeg allowed Bartolomeu to assist him without wearing gloves which enabled the spread of bacteria which can cause serious eye infections to patients.
Infection was transmitted to Leopoldina Rosa, Valdelene Aparecida, Ernesto Barradas and Michael Donovan who underwent eye surgery at the clinic.
In an interview with Correio da Manhã, Valdelene Aparecida said that she had completely lost her sight and had been unable to work ever since the treatment which went so horribly wrong.
The case caused widespread concern at the time with patients having to be transferred to the public health service for treatment. All claim to have been left partially blind after the surgery.
The case continues in court on December 12.
