There are many procedures and medical conditions that will require a patient to follow a certain diet. When a doctor provides their patients with a plan to follow for dietary purposes, the patient must follow it accordingly. There are instances where not following the prescribed diet can result in the patient’s death. Likewise, when a physician does not provide the patient with the right directions and steps to follow for their diet, the patient can also suffer catastrophic injuries.
Along with medical conditions like diabetes requiring restricted diets, different medications can require a person to limit themselves from consuming certain types of foods that can have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the medication, hence creating additional problems. Subsequently, a patient who is scheduled for a specific operation might be given instructions on what they can eat and how soon before the operation must they stop eating. Not following any of these directions can be catastrophic.
When a medical professional fails to advise the patient of what is needed for them to maintain their health, they could be held responsible for any resulting injuries that the patient endures while on the diet. Just imagine being on a restricted diet and during a patient’s stay at the hospital, they are given that food which they were initially restricted to take. What a grave mistake that could cost a person their life.
Risks with Improper Diet Instructions
Below will be described some risks associated with a person who is given the wrong instructions during their diet.
Diabetes/ Gestational Diabetes: Diabetes is a medical condition that affects a person’s blood sugar levels. Some people have diabetes normally, while some pregnant develop what is known as gestational diabetes. This occurs when the body does not properly create insulin and the blood sugar levels rise very high. Diabetes requires a special diet to reduce the chances of having high blood sugar levels. If a person or pregnant woman are not given the correct instructions of what to eat and what not to eat, they can suffer kidney problems, hyperglycemia, large baby, and even death.
Cosmetic Weight Loss: This is an elective surgery that is done pertaining to a person’s weight. These surgeries typically require a person to lose a certain amount of weight before they can undergo the surgery. This weight loss ensures that the patient’s liver will be smaller to allow easier access to the stomach area. When a doctor does not tell their patients about the required diet that they must follow before their surgery, there can be many complications during the procedure.
Blood Thinners: When a person is given a blood thinning medication, there are certain foods that they simply cannot consume. A doctor has to let their patient know of the foods that they cannot eat because these foods can cause excess bleeding, strokes, and even death.
Dieting to Save Your Life
Initially, people diet to make their overall health better. When a medical professional does not give their patients the right directions on what they can eat, what they cannot eat, or how much they can eat, they can be the cause of a person’s death. Yes, they can be held responsible if they give the wrong instructions for the patient’s diet.