Previously, we reported on the ability for medical malpractice and medical errors to cause significant harm to patients. This is particularly the case when doctors dismiss a patient’s concerns and, instead, deem their complaints to be insignificant.
Unfortunately, this tragedy became a reality for a Louisiana diabetic patient who was told by his doctor that the pain in his leg was insignificant and only needed a follow-up appointment for wound care, only to find that a few days later, his leg had to be amputated in the emergency room because of a problem that was not discovered when he first visited the doctor.
Many people do not realize that medical malpractice claims can arise not only over obvious mistakes made during surgery or in the treatment of patients, but also in failing to treat patients as well. This “failure to diagnose” can technically be a misdiagnosis–or missed diagnosis. Doctors can be held legally liable for medical malpractice not only when they make an affirmative mistake, but also when they choose to do nothing in response to a patient reporting symptoms.
Misdiagnosis Risks Associated With Diabetes
Unfortunately, a lot can go wrong when doctors are dealing with diabetes. There are many reports of patients being misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes when they actually have type 1 diabetes, which is commonly thought of as only pertaining to children. The frightening reality of these misdiagnoses is that patients are given the wrong treatment, and that treatment can end up being deadly, particularly given that insulin usage guidelines vary considerably between type 1 and 2 diabetes. And then there are instances when patients are involved with medical malpractice due to being diagnosed with diabetes when they don’t have it at all.
However, aside from whether someone has diabetes or not, or which type they have, providing them with the appropriate treatment for any given ailment, if they do have diabetes, can be tricky. Failure to do so can not only lead to amputations, but also heart attacks, strokes, and even blindness. Specifically, any diabetic patients indicating that they have pain in their feet or legs should be followed up with aggressive screening for nerve damage and sensory loss because diabetic patients are at risk for these problems and, if left untreated, can be subject to amputations.
One way to ensure that you have been properly diagnosed is to insist on seeing a specialist in addition to initially seeing a general physician. For example, it has been suggested that diabetic patients with foot pain follow up with a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon who can detect neuropathy. Doctors have also reported that following certain foot care routines can be helpful in preventing these issues in diabetic patients.
Our Louisiana Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Help
Sometimes even a minor delay can dramatically affect the outcome of the treatment. If you have been harmed by the negligence of your doctor or medical professional for failing to timely treat your disease or condition, Harrell & Nowak can help. We have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients, and we are prepared to help you today.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, contact our New Orleans personal injury law firm today for a free, confidential consultation.