Medical Malpractice & Diabetes

More than 23 million Americans are afflicted with diabetes––the 7th most common cause of death in America.

Diabetes is the single most common cause of adult blindness, kidney failure, and non-traumatic amputations in the nation. Because of the risk of these severe complications, diabetes demands a significant amount of attention from both diabetic patients and their doctors.

There is no cure for diabetes and once an individual requires medication to manage their insulin levels, they will need treatment for the rest of their lives. The quality of this treatment will determine whether their lives will be relatively unaffected by the disease or seriously burdened with disabilities.

Misdiagnosis or Mismanagement of Diabetes & Medical Malpractice

When an individual’s diabetes is not diagnosed, misdiagnosed, or mismanaged, it can result in the loss of a kidney, the loss of sight, or the amputation of a foot. All of these very serious consequences are preventable and can be grounds for a medical malpractice case against the treating physician.

Doctors and other healthcare professionals have a legal duty to their patients and must follow strict medical guidelines when treating and diagnosing their patients’ illnesses. If a doctor or healthcare professional fails to treat or diagnose a patient’s diabetes, he or she may be sued on the ground of medical malpractice if the patient experiences any serious complications.

The Consequences of the Mismanagement of Diabetes

A diabetic patient can suffer severe injury and even lose their life if their blood-sugar levels are not adequately monitored, or he or she is given too much insulin. In addition, untreated gestational diabetes, which affects 18% of all pregnant women, can lead to serious and life-threatening complications for both the mother and the unborn child.

Still, diabetes is a disease that is often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. In fact, statistics show that more than 24,000 Americans lose their eyesight, a kidney, or a limb as a result of the delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, or mismanagement of diabetes, every year. This leads one to believe that neither the healthcare profession nor the legal profession is doing enough to ensure an adequate standard of care for diabetic patients.

Ultimately, only the vigorous prosecution of medical malpractice claims by patients who suffer the preventable consequences of the misdiagnosis or mismanagement of diabetes (and their lawyers) will improve the standard of care for all diabetic patients and ensure that those who are the victims of medical malpractice receive just and adequate compensation.

Contact a Qualified Medical Malpractice Attorney

If you are a diabetic patient and feel that you have been the victim of medical malpractice in the diagnosis or treatment of your condition, contact a qualified medical malpractice attorney to find out if you have grounds for a claim or lawsuit against the treating physician or healthcare professional.