Iatrogenic hypoglycemia and malpractice claims.
Iatrogenic neuroglycopenia represents a medical emergency for which accepted and usually effective treatment exists. Treating physicians face a malpractice risk if there is permanent neurologic damage and there is a perception of failure to act prudently both before and after the damaging episode. We report two cases to illustrate the medical and legal issues that may be raised in such claims.
Fink
S
S
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Hampton, Va., USA.
Chaudhuri
T K
TK
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005947:Glucose