Over the last few years, I've been dealing with extreme sluggishness and frequent urination. My previous doctor suggested that I was suffering from lack of sleep and bad nutrition. My situation continued to worsen, so I finally changed doctors. My current doctor took several tests and has diagnosed me with Type II diabetes. He said that according to the lab results, I've had the condition for several years. Now I have hypokalemia, which is a low potassium complication resulting from my diabetes. He also told me that I'm in the first stages of kidney failure due to non-treatment. I'm upset that I now have to deal with health problems and medical bills that could have been avoided if my former doctor had diagnosed me correctly. Can I sue him for medical malpractice?
Is a diabetes misdiagnosis considered malpractice?
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Answer:
Misdiagnosis is a major basis for many medical malpractice claims, and it doesn't matter that it was a misdiagnosis of diabetes in this case. The misdiagnosis has led to measurable harm with your high potassium kidney failure and has cost you money and your overall health. In addition to kidney problems and potassium complications, delayed diabetes treatment can also lead to risk of aneurysms and strokes. These complications can be avoided with a timely diagnosis, which didn't occur here. Your doctor misdiagnosed your problems as simply bad nutrition and lack of sleep and proper steps were not taken to prevent your present condition.
As all doctors are held to an appropriate standard of care recognized throughout the medical community, your previous doctor may be held liable for all damages resulting from your diabetes misdiagnosis, especially as it pertains to your potassium deficiency.
Talk to a Medical Malpractice Attorney to determine the viability of your claim and what you can expect to get out of it.
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Posted by Sharon Cullars on 05 Apr 2010