Medical Malpractice in the Treatment of Diabetes: Medical Malpractice in Diabetes Treatment

Medical Malpractice in the Treatment of Diabetes

What are "standards of care"? These are the minimum requirements for competent treatment of a medical disease or condition. A number of organizations, mainly the American Diabetes Association, have published guidelines that together make up the standards of care for treating diabetics in the United States.

If a doctor has violated these standards of care, he or she can be legally liable for the damage caused by the substandard medical care.

Some doctors are much better about following up-to-date treatment guidelines and standards than others. In diabetes, it can be important to regularly see a physician who specializes in diabetes. These doctors are called diabetologists or endocrinologists, a subspecialty of internal medicine. General internal medicine physicians can and do give excellent diabetes care, but some do not have the training, knowledge or interest to provide the high-quality care that diabetic patients need and deserve.

Standards of Care

This article is a complete collection of the standards of care your doctor should follow when treating his patients for Diabetes. Composed by the physicians of the American Diabetes Association, it describes the goals a doctor must meet if he is to fulfill the minimum requirements for diabetes treatment. These include regular hemoglobin, eye, and foot testing, as well as patient education and the establishment of a clear nutrition and exercise program to minimize the cardiovascular risks of diabetes. Link

See the website www.guideline.gov for a list of diabetes care guidelines from a variety of medical professional organizations. Link

This standard of care consensus statement discusses general insulin use and blood sugar control. Link

[see also references 1 and 2 (glucose).]
[it is also discussed in the comprehensive medical standards of care for diabetes treatment, at: Link]

Updated standard of care for the prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy (blindness). This includes treatment guidelines for blood glucose control and dilated eye exams. Link

Updated standard of care for the prevention and treatment of diabetic foot disease. Link

Updated standard of care for the prevention and treatment of diabetic nephropathy (diabetic kidney disease). Link

Updated standard of care for the prevention and treatment of general diabetic neuropathy. Link

American College of Radiology standards for detecting diabetic osteomyelitis. Link

American Diabetes Association standards for aspirin treatment of diabetes. Link

American Optometric Association standards for optometrists in treating diabetes-related eye disease. Link

American Diabetes Association standards for management of diabetes in the school and child care setting. Link

American Diabetes Association standards for management of diabetes in correctional facilities. Link

American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine standards for care of diabetic foot diseases. Link

American Academy of Ophthalmology standards for treatment of diabetic retinopathy (blindness). Link

American Diabetes Association standards for diagnosis and classification of diabetes. Link

American Diabetes Association standards for diabetes in a pregnant mother (gestational diabetes). Link

National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry standards for the laboratory analysis of diabetes. Link

American Healthway's Hospital Inpatient management guidelines for diabetes patients. Link

National Kidney Foundation standards for the treatment of diabetic kidney disease. Link

American Medical Directors Association standards for managing diabetes in the long-term care setting. Link

American Diabetes Association's standards for pancreas transplant in type I diabetes. Link

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Federal Government Agency Task Force on Community Preventive Services standards for healthcare system and self-management education interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality from diabetes. Link

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists medical guidelines for the management of diabetes mellitus: the AACE system of intensive diabetes self-management--2002 update. Link

"Medical malpractice in managing diabetes", by Patrick Malone. (Reprinted with permission from Trial magazine, March 2004)

Legal Consultation If you or a family member has suffered a serious, permanent injury related to poor diabetes care, you may want to talk to a lawyer. Blindness, amputation and kidney failure are some of the injuries that could qualify for a legal case. We provide free and confidential consultations to help determine if you have a valid malpractice case. Contact us with this form to provide basic information to get the process started:
Name of injured person:

Your name (if different):

Phone number:

Address:

City:	State:	Zip code:

E-mail address:

Type of injury suffered:

Please describe injuries suffered:

When was the injury first diagnosed?

When was diabetes first diagnosed?

Please describe your major concerns with the quality of the medical care:

We use this contact form solely to make a preliminary decision about whether you might have a claim and whether we might be able to help you. The use of the Internet, and this form, to communicate with Stein, Mitchell & Mezines LLP does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Stein, Mitchell & Mezines respects your privacy and will never share your information with others.

- indicates required field