Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Finds Louisville Doctor in Contempt for Lying Under Oath

According to The Courier-Journal, a Jefferson Circuit Court judge has found a Louisville doctor to be in contempt for lying under oath during a deposition. Apparently, a man is in the preliminary stages of suing the doctor for medical malpractice for a November 2009 eye surgery that allegedly caused damages. The doctor reportedly lied about secretly sending two newspaper articles about the risks of pursuing trivial malpractice lawsuits to the man.

Although the assistant executive director of the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure stated that they are investigating the doctor’s actions in court, as of now, he is in “good standing” as an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon. The doctor has been fined $7,500 and ordered to pay for the man’s legal bills in relation to the contempt litigation. While the medical malpractice case is pending, the judge said that the doctor’s false testimony may be revealed at trial. The judge also referred to the doctor’s actions as “reprehensible” and considers him to have abused the trust of the public because of sending a letter of “implied countersuit” to his former patient, then lying about it repeatedly under oath during the deposition.

Perjury, or lying under oath, is not to be taken lightly and can lead to serious consequences. Contempt in court also does a huge disservice to plaintiffs involved in a case. While every medical negligence case in Kentucky is different, a Louisville medical malpractice attorney with years of experience will ensure that your rights are protected and will be prepared to successfully handle the unexpected.

A patient who is injured by a medical professional’s mistake, misdiagnosis, or failure to provide a high standard of care may have legal grounds to pursue compensation for damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit.