Mistake in the care of patient with diabetes while hospitalized

Overview

This case report demonstrates a series of small deviations from the routine diabetes care which resulted in a fatal outcome with forensic consequences. A 75-year old man with type 2 diabetes was referred to a hospital due to acute pain in his right hip. The omitting of insulin prescription resulted in a fatal outcome. The experts concluded, various mishaps and such a critical medical error may occure in any healthcare institution at any time. The purpose of this report is reduce the risk of such pitfalls in the future.

Keywords:

diabetes mellitus – insulin therapy – cooperation between physicians and nurses – professional responsibility – competence – mishaps