Dr. Victor Hugo Gonzalez, MD

This was one of the most concerning medical encounters I have witnessed. A young female patient, currently in ICE custody and at risk of permanent blindness following a highly specialized procedure (keratopigmentation), was evaluated by Dr. Victor Hugo Gonzalez at Gulf Coast Eye Institute in Harlingen. During the visit, Dr. Gonzalez explicitly stated that he had never seen, treated, or followed a keratopigmentation case in his entire career. Despite acknowledging no experience with this condition, he concluded that the situation was “not serious” and did not refer the patient to a qualified cornea specialist. The patient reported that Dr. Gonzalez indicated that referral to an outside specialist would not be approved by ICE. If accurate, this raises serious concerns about whether medical decisions are being made independently in a setting where the patient has no ability to seek care elsewhere. His assessment directly contradicts the opinions of multiple cornea specialists, including… the surgeon who performed the procedure in New York, all of whom warned about the risk of delayed and irreversible vision loss. There is also a direct contradiction within the same facility. Another physician, Dr. Stephen Larsen, had previously evaluated the patient and documented findings including dry eye and visual disturbance. However, the patient reported that during Dr. Gonzalez’s evaluation, he dismissed Dr. Larsen’s diagnosis and mocked it. There are also serious concerns regarding continuity of care. The patient had already completed a full course of Nortriptyline for approximately two months without any benefit. Despite this, the same medication was prescribed again without addressing prior treatment failure. This case involves a detained patient who is entirely dependent on the system and cannot seek independent care. In such circumstances, physicians have an elevated responsibility to act within their expertise and refer appropriately when necessary. That did not occur here. The result is a patient with worsening symptoms, conflicting medical opinions within the same facility, no access to an appropriately qualified specialist, and ongoing risk of permanent harm. This experience raises serious concerns regarding clinical judgment, accountability, and patient advocacy in a highly vulnerable situation

My primary doctor for monthly Alea injections is in the Mayo System in Minnesota and received them this winter by Dr. Gonzales. My first appointment was at 3:15. I finally saw the doctor at 7:45! Things do happen, but no one advised patients so we could go out to eat (the staff had pizza sent in for themselves so we could watch them eat.) We just sat for hours in series of waiting rooms. Dr. Gonzales seemed competent, but my overall impression was of a place that was disorganized, cluttered, doctor centered, rather than patient centered.