Misdiagnosis of Hyperglycemia Leading to Diabetic Coma

The Butcher Case

Our client was forty-one (41) years old, and had high blood pressure. For this, he was treating with Dr. Davon. Dr. Davon prescribed him medication which was only barely controlling his blood pressure. He was working as a truck driver, and since he was unable to control his blood pressure, he was laid off of work for some period of time, but was planning on returning back to work once he got his blood pressure under control.

Mr. Butcher went to see Dr. Davon and complained that he was very thirsty and had frequent need to urinate during the night, which are symptoms of hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Dr. Davon thought those symptoms were the effects of the blood pressure medicine, and obtained a urine sample which showed that Mr. Bitcher’s blood sugar was very high. He told Mr. Butcher that his office would schedule a two (2) hour glucose tolerance test (blood sugar level test) for a few days later.

Mr. Butcher went to the lab for his blood test, and the results were reported that he had an extremely high blood sugar level. Mrs. Butcher then called Dr. Davon’s office and stated that she wanted her husband to be seen because he was very diaphoretic, confused and had blisters on his tongue. They went to Dr. Davon’s office and were told to wait in the waiting room. While they were waiting, Mr. Butcher became unresponsive. Dr. Davon’s nurse came out and said that she didn’t realize that Mr. Butcher condition was as bad as it was. Dr. Davon did not examine Mr. Butcher, but instead called an ambulance and sent Mr. Butcher to the hospital.

Mr. Butcher fell into a diabetic coma, which he stayed in for approximately six (6) days. He suffered from blurred vision, poor short-term memory and anxiety attacks.

Dr. Davon defended the case, alleging that he was not aware of the blood test results, and tried to allege that the Plaintiff’s symptoms were consistent with something other than high blood sugar.

After the case was called for trial, jury was selected, and trial began. Four (4) days into the trial, the case settled for a substantial amount.