Diabetics face unique medical situations and challenges. One unique medical challenge is failure to control potassium. Failure to control diabetes can lead to potassium problems. Generally, two types of problems may occur: high potassium levels, known as “hyperkalemia” or low potassium levels, known as “hypokalemia.”
Hyperkalemia generally results from poorly controlled diabetes which causes kidney damage. In addition, hyperkalemia can occur when a diabetic experiences diabetic ketoacedosis. Conversely, hypokalemia is caused due to the impairment of pancreatic insulin production to counteract sugar intake, which can lead to hyperglycemia.
Negligent Treatment of Diabetes: Common Issues
- Injuries that May Result from Poor Diabetes Treatment
- Failure to Diagnose, or Misdignosis of a Diabetic Condition
- Doctors Liability for Negligent Diabetes Treatment
- Do I Have a Case? Can I File a Malpractice Suit?
Injuries Resulting from Poor Treatment of Diabetes
Failure to properly manage a patient’s diabetes can result in many complications. Failure to manage diabetes which leads to potassium deficiency can result in the following:
- Kidney damage and/or kidney failure
- Damage to unborn fetus if pregnant woman
- Increased risk of aneurysms and aneurism rupture
- Kidney stones
- Reduced skin elasticity
- Stroke
Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnosis of Diabetes
Another issue regarding malpractice and diabetes has to do with a misdiagnosis, or failure to diagnose diabetes. If the condition is not diagnosed early on, and preventative measures are not taken, the doctor or hospital may be held liable for all damages that occur as a result of this medical mistake.
Doctors Liability for Negligent Diabetic Treatment
A physician’s failure to properly treat a diabetic which results in a potassium deficiency can result in medical malpractice. When treating a diabetic patient, a doctor has to use the appropriate standard of care; deviation can cause an injury to the patient which may result in liability. The American Diabetes Association, in addition to other professional associations, indicate that there are particular goals for the physician to meet when treating diabetics, which include routine eye, feet and hemoglobin testing, patient education and establishment of nutrition and exercise programs. If a physician fails to meet these goals and a potassium deficiency occurs, the physician may be liable for the patient’s injuries. In addition, if a doctor does not treat the patient properly, ignores symptoms or warning signs, or makes an error in judgment which results in uncontrolled diabetes and potassium deficiency, the doctor can be held liable for the patient’s injuries.
Do I Have a Case? Can I File a Malpractice Suit?
In order to commence a law suit based upon medical malpractice arising out of uncontrolled diabetes, one should retain the services of an experienced medical malpractice attorney. In addition, one should research the background of the attorney in order to obtain information indicating the attorney’s experience in diabetic medical malpractice, or related types of medical malpractice cases involving metabolic disorders or endocrinology.
The medical malpractice attorney can handle the commencement of the lawsuit on your behalf. While every jurisdiction’s requirements vary, most states require the filing of a summons and complaint against the physician and/or hospital where the treatment was performed in order to commence the medical malpractice action. Furthermore, an attorney who possesses experience in handling diabetic law suits will have a sophisticated medical and legal understanding of how poorly controlled diabetes causes potassium deficiency; this expertise can result in the recovery of substantial amounts for the patient.
