If you have an elderly loved one, you may have recently heard the term “failure to thrive” from a healthcare professional. It sounds like a dire warning that your time with them is short.
But maybe they aren’t at the end-of-life stage. It’s possible the physician isn’t making an effort to discover the root cause of your loved one’s malaise.
Failure to thrive or malpractice?
Physicians often use the term “failure to thrive” when an elderly person is showing a decline in condition. It may involve confusion, weight loss, fatigue and no interest in social activities. Failure to thrive (FTT) is not an actual medical diagnosis. Instead, it’s a clinical observation when there is no clear diagnosis.
However, there may be times that the healthcare provider uses FTT rather than taking the time to properly assess their patient. This is sometimes due to the fact that the elderly may have multiple underlying health conditions.
When an older person has an FTT diagnosis, it typically takes longer for hospital admittance. Once there, they are kept longer, increasing the likelihood of a hospital-acquired infection. This can lead to a further decline in their health. Furthermore, by failing to investigate the cause of the health problem, older individuals may go through prolonged suffering for an easily treatable health condition.
So, is a “failure to thrive” diagnosis grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit? It depends on the following four criteria:
- Was there a duty of care between your loved one and their healthcare provider?
- Did the healthcare provider breach their duty by failing to meet the standard of care by not investigating the root cause of your loved one’s health problem?
- Did the breach of duty directly cause your loved one’s worsening condition?
- Was there actual harm or damages because of the breach, such as physical pain, emotional distress or additional healthcare costs?
If you believe that your loved one’s health decline was preventable, then you may wish to contact someone who can review the details of the case and help you understand your options.