North Carolina Man Sues Oceania Cruises After Contracting MRSA Infection from Shipboard Injection
Glenn Shefter, a resident of North Carolina, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Oceania Cruises Ltd. and Dr. Maria Helena Florez Bolivar in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-22923-JEM, alleges that Shefter suffered life-altering injuries, including a permanent loss of vision, after receiving a negligent medical injection while sailing as a passenger aboard the Oceania Insignia.
Cruise Passenger Allegedly Contracts MRSA and Sepsis Following Negligent Medical Care on Oceania Insignia
The legal action stems from events that occurred during a world cruise in early 2025. According to the complaint, Shefter sought treatment at the shipboard medical facility on January 27, 2025, for pain in his neck and shoulder area. During the evaluation, Dr. Bolivar administered an intramuscular injection of ketorolac. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants failed to follow reasonable medical hygiene protocols, such as properly disinfecting the skin or medical equipment prior to the injection. This failure reportedly caused Shefter to contract Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA, while aboard the vessel.
Oceania Cruises Accused of Failing to Recognize Rapidly Declining Health and Delayed Medical Evacuation
Following the injection, Shefter’s health began to deteriorate rapidly between January 28 and January 29. The plaintiff reportedly experienced fever, chills, involuntary shaking, and confusion, which the lawsuit identifies as the onset of sepsis. The complaint alleges that Oceania and its medical staff failed to appropriately recognize and manage these symptoms or enact a prompt shoreside evaluation. It was not until January 30 that Shefter was medically disembarked to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with sepsis. The infection eventually spread to his eyes, leading to a diagnosis of an eye infection and a subsequent retina detachment that required surgery and resulted in permanent vision impairment.
Lawsuit References Prior Medical Negligence Claims Against Oceania Cruises to Establish Notice of Risk
To support the claim of negligence, Shefter’s legal team points to Oceania’s alleged knowledge of risks regarding inadequate shipboard medical care. The complaint references several prior lawsuits filed in the Southern District of Florida involving similar allegations of medical mismanagement aboard Oceania vessels. These include cases such as Lilore v. Oceania Cruises, involving a negligent catheter change, and Ure v. Oceania Cruises, which concerned a failure to monitor metabolic levels. The plaintiff argues these prior incidents should have put the cruise line on notice that its medical protocols were insufficient to protect passengers from foreseeable harm.
Complaint Alleges Vicarious Liability for Shipboard Doctors and Violations of International Health Care Guidelines
The lawsuit asserts that Oceania Cruises is vicariously liable for the actions of its medical personnel under theories of respondeat superior and apparent agency. The plaintiff contends that because the medical staff wore Oceania uniforms, worked in a facility owned by the cruise line, and were billed through the passenger’s onboard account, Oceania maintained significant control over their activities. Furthermore, the complaint alleges that the defendants violated the American College of Emergency Physicians Cruise Ship Health Care Guidelines, specifically Guideline 7 regarding infection control and sterile techniques for invasive procedures.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Significant Medical Expenses and Lost Value of Around the World Cruise
Shefter is seeking damages for a wide range of losses, including over $176,389 in out-of-pocket medical costs and the lost value of his cruise, which was valued at over $327,848. The counts against Oceania include general negligence, negligent failure to warn, and vicarious liability for the conduct of the medical staff. The plaintiff alleges that the negligence of the cruise line and the shipboard doctor led to permanent physical disability, disfigurement, and emotional distress. He also demands a trial by jury to determine the full extent of the damages owed for these life-changing injuries.
Contact a Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today if You Were Injured by Negligent Shipboard Care
Passengers who suffer from infections, misdiagnosis, or improper medical treatment while on a cruise may be eligible for compensation under general maritime law. Cruise lines have a duty to provide reasonable care and must ensure that their medical facilities adhere to established safety and hygiene standards. If you or a loved one experienced a serious medical complication or a cruise ship infection due to professional negligence, contact our team of experienced maritime injury lawyers today. We can help you navigate the complexities of filing a claim against a major cruise line and ensure your rights are protected.
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Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.
