**This horrific experience happened to me because of Dr D's neglect and lack of care. **PLEASE be aware his eye exams are neglectful. I should have been referred to an ophthalmologist due to pre-existing conditions. Instead, I was told I had a clogged eye duct for two years when in reality it was a squamous cell carcinoma, and I had to have extensive surgery. My dermatologist found it and referred me to an ophthalmologist finally. I wrote and asked him to assist me with helping me pay for the bills of extensive eye surgery and reparation. He ignored my letter and so I am sharing this with all of you to please be aware.
Dear Dr. Didaj,
My name is Laura Cote, and I have been your patient from June 3, 2017 to Sept 25, 2021. I am writing this letter after a diagnosis of skin cancer on March 16, 2022 by Dr. Brent Brimhall, Opthamalogist. This cancer was undiagnosed and undetected for years while I was in your care. During my exam with you on Sept 24, 2020, I informed you about the discomfort I felt on my left bottom eyelid. I shared that it would "itch, flake and water a lot." You replied that this was a common problem as you looked at my eye, and then diagnosed me with a clogged eye duct. The treatment you prescribed was for me to wash my eye with mild soap and to use a warm water compress (this is noted in my chart document notes under " Impressions," 9/24/20). I continued to follow your instructions without any lasting relief.
The following year, on September 25, 2021 during my annual eye exam, you told me the same instructions when I brought up my left lower eye discomfort. You said that I needed to be more diligent with warm water compresses and washings. You also mentioned, "If it was a serious problem, my medical equipment would have picked up on it." Additionally, you said, "...if it was a serious matter, I would refer you across the street to an ophthalmologist, but that isn't necessary." I continued following your directions for my eye problem with little relief. My chart notes also document the immuno-suppressant medications that I was regularly taking from the start of care as your patient. This information places me in a high-risk category, which was overlooked. No referral or deeper concern was placed on my care for this reoccurring problem, otherwise I would have been referred to an ophthalmologist.
A few months passed, and I was at my dermatology appointment (12/16/2021). I asked the dermatologist to check my eye because I was still suffering from the same discomfort. She told me that it looked suspicious, and referred me to an ophthalmologist. A family friend shared with me the name of their eye doctor, and I made an appointment with him.
Dr. Brent Brimhall informed me that my left lower eyelid had an irritation area that looked questionable and suspicious. He had a biopsy performed, and the diagnosis came back as a Squamous Cell Carcinoma. He told me that I should have been referred a lot earlier, especially because I was a high-risk patient (recipient of lung transplants, currently taking immuno-suppressant medications) and that this possibly could have been a minor situation if caught earlier. Instead, he said that surgery and reconstruction was needed. I underwent Mohs surgery and reconstructive surgery (June 19th and 20th, 2022, Dr. Brent Brimhall and Dr. Steven Leibowitz) on my lower left eyelid. I have attached pictures for your reference. This has been a very difficult situation for me to find out that I didn't just have a clogged eye duct, as you diagnosed. In actuality, I had cancerous cells growing in my eyelid during those years, completely undiagnosed.
Due to the lack of professional judgment and care, I am requesting that you please cover my medical bills associated with the two-day surgery and follow up for the removal of the Squamous Cell Carcinoma and reconstruction surgery that was performed on my left bottom eyelid. The total cost of care concerning my lower left eyelid surgery and reconstruction is approximately @&$, and I can provide you with the associated medical bills for your review.
This experience has been extremely unsettling to me, especially because I entrust my doctors with their expertise in assisting and caring for my needs. If I had been referred earlier, the surgery and reconstruction may easily have been much less invasive and expensive. Possibly, surgery might not have been necessary at all. I now have grafted skin to build a left bottom eyelid and I am also scarred, without bottom eyelashes. The stress of going through extensive eye surgery/reconstruction has been overwhelming.
I can be reached via email at lauracote1974@gmail.com or by my phone number at 702-498-8102 to discuss this further.
Sincerely,
Laura Cote
lauracote1974@gmail.com
702-498-81102 read more