1. The document discusses common optometric malpractice and relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC). It lists 10 common optometric malpractices such as failure to dilate pupils during exams, determine causes of vision loss, conduct periodic eye exams for contact lens wearers, and maintain proper records. 2. IPC sections 319-322 define hurt, grievous hurt, and voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt. Grievous hurt includes emasculation, vision or hearing loss, impairing limbs, and disfiguration. 3. The document was submitted by Krishna Kumar Gupta to their professor at Sankara Academy of Vision in Ludhiana, India as an assignment on opt

1. Sankara academy of vision ludhiana
Assignment of law in optometry
Assignment topic:Common Optometric Malpractice and IPC SECTION 319 - 322
Submitted to: Mrs. Renu thakur
Professor, SAV
Submitted by: Mr Krishna kumar gupta(1740991427)
Common Optometric Malpractice
1. Don’t dilate the pupil.
Dilation of the pupil is a necessary part of the comprehensive examination. It is also a great help
in enabling a clinician to detect glaucoma, retinal detachments and tumors .Warn patients that blur
and reduced acuity can result from dilation, and provide mydriatic sunglasses. Elderly patients or
patients with infirmities may require assistance.
2. Don’t determine the cause of reduced acuity.
Failing to rule out disease in young patients with reduced acuity can result in huge liability claims
(in the millions) because of the lifelong effects of diminished vision or blindness.
3. Don’t refer/recall properly
A practitioners legal responsibility for a patient has not ended unless treatment is concluded or the
patient is referred to anotherpractitioner for care
4. Don’t offer polycarbonate when eye protection is needed.
Polycarbonate, the most impact-resistant lens material, is the material of choice for patients who
are at risk for eye injury. These include monocular patients, the most important group in terms of
protection; patients who engage in sports
5. Don’t do periodic eye health exams on contact lens wearers.
Patients who wear contact lenses are not immune to glaucoma, retinal detachments and ocular
tumors, so practitioners must conduct periodic eye health assessments on contact lens patients to
rule out the presence of intraocular (or other) diseases.
6. Don’t tell patients about suspicious findings
Practitioners who do not adequately explain the importance of a suspicious finding leave
themselves open to a malpractice claim.
7. Forget informed consent.
Informed consent arises in several areas of clinical practice, including fitting patients with
extended-wear (overnight) or disposable contact lenses,dilating an anterior chamber angle that is
anatomically narrow enough to cause an angle-closure attack and prescribing drugs with ocular
side effects.
8. Don’t do visual field testing on children.

2. Because of the rare but unfortunate occurrence of brain tumors in children, visual field testing
even of children as young as ages 5 and 6has become a legal issue
9. Don’t follow comanagement protocols.
Postoperative care has become routine in optometry, but liability claims involving comanaging
optometrists are few. Since comanaging optometrists are responsible for postoperative
complications, they must comply with informed consent requirements.
10. Keep poor records
Complete and specific documentation is the cornerstone to any malpractice defense.
Reference :Class JG. Standards of Practice for Primary Eyecare. Columbus: Anadem Publishers,
1998. 2. Bettman JW. A Review of 412 Claims in Ophthalmology. In: Bettman JW, ed.
International Ophthalmology Clinics. Vol. 20, 1980:13141.
IPC SECTION 319 - 322
319.Hurt
Whoever causes bodily pain, disease or infirmity to any person is said to cause hurt.
320. Grievous hurt.
The following kinds of hurt only are designated as “grievous“:
First — Emasculation.
Secondly — Permanent privation of the sight of either eye.
Thirdly — Permanent privation of the hearing of either ear,
Fourthly — Privation of any member or joint.
Fifthly.— Destruction or permanent impairing of the powers of any member or joint.
Sixthly — Permanent disfiguration of the head or face.
Seventhly — Fracture or dislocation of a bone or tooth.
Eighthly — Any hurt which endangers life or which causes the sufferer to be during the space of
twenty days in severe bodily pain, or unable to follow his ordinary pursuits.
321. Voluntarily causing hurt.
Whoeverdoes any act with the intention of thereby causing hurt to any person,or with the knowledge
that he is likely thereby to cause hurt to any person, and does thereby cause hurt to any person, is said
“voluntarily to cause hurt“.
322. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
Whoevervoluntarily causes hurt,if the hurt which he intends to cause or knows himself to be likely to
cause is grievous hurt, and if the hurt which he causes is grievous hurt, is said “voluntarily to cause
grievous hurt.”
SUBMITTED BY KRISHNA KUMAR GUPTA