Negligent Chronic Disease Monitoring by Primary Care Physicians

For patients living with serious health conditions, primary care physicians are often the first and most important line of defense. These doctors are entrusted with the long-term responsibility of managing diseases that, if left unchecked, can spiral into life-threatening emergencies. But when that trust is broken, the consequences can be catastrophic. Negligent chronic disease monitoring by primary care physicians can result in strokes, amputations, kidney failure, and, in extreme cases, death. Patients count on their doctors to track and manage symptoms and intervene before complications arise, and if they don’t, the damage is often permanent. If you or a loved one sustained damages to a primary care physician’s inattentive care, you have the right to pursue medical malpractice claims, and you should talk to an attorney. The trusted Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers are skilled at demonstrating fault in claims against reckless providers, and if you hire us, we can assess your case and advise you on what steps you can take to protect your interests. We are committed to helping victims throughout Syracuse, Rochester, and Upstate New York hold negligent providers accountable.

Patients with chronic diseases depend on their physicians to conduct regular exams, order appropriate tests, monitor lab results, adjust medications as needed, and coordinate care with specialists. When these responsibilities are neglected, chronic conditions can spiral out of control. For example, a patient with diabetes who is not properly monitored may develop uncontrolled blood glucose levels, leading to neuropathy, kidney failure, or diabetic ketoacidosis. A patient with hypertension may suffer a stroke, heart failure, or vision loss if elevated blood pressure goes unaddressed.

Many complications of chronic disease are cumulative and not immediately visible. Patients may appear stable for months or even years while their condition slowly deteriorates due to a lack of appropriate management. Physicians who fail to recognize these gradual changes, ignore concerning lab values, or rely on outdated treatment plans may expose their patients to serious harm. In some cases, a patient may not discover the consequences of negligent chronic disease monitoring until they are hospitalized for a medical emergency. By that time, the damage may be irreversible and require ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, or long-term care.

The impact of negligent chronic disease monitoring by primary care physicians extends beyond physical injuries. Patients often suffer emotional distress, loss of independence, and financial hardship due to additional medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced quality of life. These harms are particularly egregious when they result from conditions that are known, treatable, and manageable when monitored properly. 

Patients harmed by negligent chronic disease monitoring by primary care physicians may have grounds to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit under New York law. These claims are generally based on a theory of negligence and require the plaintiff to prove four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. The duty element is typically established through the ongoing provider-patient relationship, which imposes an obligation on the defendant to provide care consistent with what is considered the accepted and good practice of medicine within the community in which the defendant practices.

A breach of that duty occurs when the defendant fails to meet those standards. In the context of chronic disease management, a breach may include failing to schedule necessary follow-up visits, not ordering or reviewing bloodwork, disregarding abnormal lab values, failing to renew or adjust prescriptions, or not referring the patient to a specialist when indicated. Even if the defendant initially diagnosed the condition correctly, ongoing neglect or inattentiveness can still constitute actionable malpractice if it results in harm to the patient.

The third element, causation, requires the plaintiff to show that the defendant’s breach was the direct cause of the injury. In other words, the patient must prove that their condition would not have worsened or would have been better managed if the defendant had met the applicable standard of care. Finally, the plaintiff must show that they suffered actual damages, which can include medical costs, loss of income, pain and suffering, and mental distress.

Because negligent chronic disease monitoring by primary care physicians often involves subtle patterns of neglect over time, expert medical testimony is essential in establishing negligence. A qualified expert can explain what the physician should have done differently, how those failures deviated from accepted medical practices, and how those failures caused or contributed to the patient’s injuries. Experts also provide critical input in quantifying damages and projecting future medical and financial needs. 

Chronic illnesses require careful, consistent management. When primary care physicians fail to monitor these conditions as required, patients may suffer lasting and unnecessary harm. If you were injured because of negligent chronic disease monitoring by a primary care physician, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses, and you should consult an attorney. The experienced Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers understand what it takes to succeed in these claims, and if you engage our services, we will help you pursue the results you deserve. Our office is located in Syracuse, and we represent clients in Rochester and throughout Upstate New York. To schedule a free and confidential consultation, contact us online or call 833-200-2000 today.