Medical negligence - diabetic overdose for 4 years!
I am thinking about taking out a medical negligence claim for my father.
He has been an insulin dependant diabetic for more than 15 years now - four years ago he was told by the consultant to inject a certain insulin 3 times a day and a different type at night. Six months later his GP changed his medication but didn't tell him to change the amount of times etc. So Dad plodded on for the next four years.
In July of this year he had two "hypos" resulting in my mother having to call for an ambulance as she was unable to bring him round. Dad visited his new GP and expressed his concerns - she is great and refered Dad back to the consultant.
The consultant stated that Dad should not have been taking the day time insulin three times a day, but only twice, he certainly should not have been taking the quantities he was and the day insulin should never be taken with that type of night time one - resulting in Dad effectively overdosing on insulin! No wonder he was having "hypos" - any of which could have killed him as he was asleep when he had them!!! Dad is 5'9" tall and of slight build at the best of times but his weight fell to 50 kgs! He wasnt sleeping, eating and was becoming depressed.
The Consultant stated that he was going to inform DVLA and ad's driving licence as revoked.
Over the last month Dad has been on a new regime and has put on over a stone, is sleeping better and is eating properly - he states that he feels so much better and has more energy which is all fantastic.
The DVLA will consider renewing his licence in a month or so, but the more I think about this situtation the more upset I become - my Dad has been given regular prescriptions for his insulin and the old GP has never once thought that he is using too much or that the types of insulin were wrong! His health has been severely affected for years now and he has lost his independance. I think the GP has been negligent in prescribing the wrong medication and too much of it without reviewing how my Dad was getting on. What do you think? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Heidi
