A medical malpractice lawsuit has been filed against a prominent Florida hospital and its associated physicians, alleging severe negligence that resulted in the plaintiff losing vision in one eye. The complaint was filed by Richard A. Carton and his wife Stella J. Carton on August 20, 2024, in the Circuit Court of Palm Beach County, Florida, naming Jupiter Medical Center, Inc., Dr. Christopher C. Muenchen, and Sheridan Emergency Physician Services, Inc. as defendants.

According to the court documents, Richard A. Carton presented himself at Jupiter Medical Center’s emergency department on August 30, 2023, with symptoms of disorientation and slight aphasia that had occurred two days prior while driving from New Jersey to his home in Palm Beach, Florida. Dr. Christopher C. Muenchen evaluated Mr. Carton and noted potential diagnoses including stroke and carotid artery stenosis but did not document any abnormalities regarding Mr. Carton’s eyes or face despite a nurse noting facial swelling.

The plaintiffs allege that Dr. Muenchen administered Dexamethasone without proper documentation or exclusion of an infection, which led to Mr. Carton’s condition worsening significantly overnight. The following morning, Mr. Carton woke up with his right eye massively swollen shut and was subsequently diagnosed with a severe infection by his ophthalmologist and later an oculoplastic surgeon.