Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers represents those who develop Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) due to medical malpractice.
Call us today for a free consultation if:
- You or a loved one developed WKS because medical professionals failed to diagnose vitamin B1 deficiency, or;
- The negligence of a physician caused you or a loved one to develop thiamine deficiency, leading to WKS
WKS affects about two percent of the population. The disease is caused by vitamin B1 deficiency. While it is often preventable with proper medical care, it is unfortunately misdiagnosed often – up to four out of every five cases may not be diagnosed until death.
Our law firm has been handling medical malpractice claims since 1990 and have recovered over $750,000,000 for our clients. Our vast experience in handling medical malpractice cases will allow us to recover the most compensation possible on your behalf.
Our law firm will handle your medical malpractice case without charging you any fee until and unless we recover money for you. The only fee we’ll charge to handle your WKS case is a percentage of any compensation we recover for you, so you’ll never owe us any upfront fee or out-of-pocket fee.
Call a Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome lawyer at our firm today for a free consultation, text us from this page or fill out this page’s free case evaluation form if you or a loved one developed WKS due to medical malpractice. We can help you recover compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, long-term care, loss of income, disability, wrongful death and more.
Understanding Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
WKS is a memory disorder caused by vitamin B1 deficiency. Vitamin B1, or thiamine, is a vital vitamin which your body utilizes for the conversion of food into energy. WKS requires immediate treatment – early diagnosis is crucial. It happens most often in those with malnutrition or alcohol use disorder. It can develop in those who are malnourished after hospitalization or surgery. It can develop in bariatric surgery patients. There is no cure, but treatments can be recommended by healthcare providers for the management of symptoms.
The disease consists of two separate stages:
- Wernicke’s encephalopathy: A severe, sudden brain disorder
- Korsakoff syndrome: A chronic memory disorder
When left untreated, Wernicke’s encephalopathy will develop into Korsakoff syndrome. It is common for those with acute Wernicke encephalopathy to suffer from:
- Confusion
- Eye problems like visual changes
- Ataxia, or being unable to coordinate one’s voluntary movements
Some people may experience muscle loss.
When the above symptoms become chronic, they can cause lasting nerve and brain cell damage. This leads to serious memory loss and an inability to form any new memories. This leads to Korsakoff syndrome.
WKS worsens over time and may become life-threatening. It is essential to provide emergency thiamine treatment, which could relieve symptoms and stop permanent damage to brain functions like memory.
Am I Eligible for a Wernicke-Korsakoff Lawsuit?
Call a Wernicke-Korsakoff lawyer at our firm today for a free consultation if:
- You or a loved one developed WKS because medical professionals failed to diagnose vitamin B1 deficiency, or;
- The negligence of a physician caused you or a loved one to develop thiamine deficiency, leading to WKS
We can help you recover financial compensation if you or a loved one had Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome diagnosed because of medical malpractice.
How Medical Negligence Leads to Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Physicians are duty-bound to act with reasonable care when treating patients. Certain scenarios exist where WKS may occur, particularly when patients also have thiamine deficiencies.
When physicians misdiagnose those with thiamine deficiencies, or physicians don’t test patients who go through bariatric surgery or have significant vomiting incidents in their medical records, the physicians could be found negligent. Physicians need to know to look for risk factors for and symptoms of WKS, such as:
- Bulimia or vomiting
- Bariatric surgery
- Long hospital stays
- Malnutrition following surgery
Long Hospital Stays
When people are in the hospital for a long time and receive nourishment exclusively or primarily via IV, they could end up receiving only about 16 percent of how much thiamine they should. When patients aren’t appropriately supplemented with vitamins, it can lead to thiamine deficiency and WKS. When patients are in the hospital for a long time and fed via IV, it’s vital for physicians to monitor their blood vitamin levels and food intake to make sure they’re getting the nutrients they need. When physicians don’t do this, it can lead to severe, permanent consequences.
Severe Nausea and Vomiting
When ill patients like bulimia patients or pregnant women with morning sickness have prolonged periods of vomiting and/or nausea, they are at risk for not getting enough vitamin B1 in their diet in order to replace what they are expelling and burning. All patients with a history of vomiting and nausea should raise red flags for thiamine deficiency risk.
Malnutrition After Surgery
All surgeries may lead to vitamin B1 deficiency when proper vitamins aren’t given when needed. Any patients who suffer from post-surgical vomiting and nausea, dehydration and undernourishment should get evaluated as well as treated for thiamine deficiency.
Bariatric Surgery Risks
Bariatric surgery is commonly referred to as laparoscopic surgery or gastric bypass surgery. In this procedure, the stomach gets divided surgically into two compartments. The larger compartment gets disconnected to reduce food intake. That section of the stomach, as well as part of the intestines, especially the duodenum, get bypassed so less food gets absorbed during the digestive process. This can lead to a vitamin B1 deficiency in two different ways:
- Restricted diet
- Thiamine being absorbed by the duodenum
The WKS risk ends up rising substantially because vitamin B1 intake is reduced in two different ways. Some healthcare providers recommend longer regulation and monitoring of thiamine levels after any weight loss surgery because of this.
How Often Is Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome Misdiagnosed?
WKS is significantly underdiagnosed. Studied have shown it could be undiagnosed in as many as 80 percent of patients. It is commonly diagnosed after death.
It can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms can mimic other conditions or be subtle. Its symptoms can mimic alcohol withdrawal, short-term memory impairment or delirium.
The “classic triad” of WKS symptoms (nystagmus, ataxia and confusion) is actually only present in less than half of WKS cases. Some patients might not display any of those symptoms.
Untreated WKS can lead to psychiatric sequelae, permanent neurological damage or even death. Early diagnosis and early thiamine treatment are vital for minimizing the syndrome’s long-term effects.
How Much Is a Wernicke-Korsakoff Settlement Worth?
The value of your WKS case will depend on the damages suffered. Damages which our law firm can help you recover include compensation for:
Medical Costs
This includes all past and future medical costs related to WKS.
Pain and Suffering
We can accurately calculate the value of the physical pain and mental suffering caused by WKS and ensure you are fairly compensated for it.
Long-Term Care
Those with WKS may require long-term care and we can help you recover compensation for the cost of this.
Loss of Income
Those with WKS may be unable to work and we can help you recover compensation for the resulting loss of income.
Disability
WKS can lead to permanent disability, which we can help you recover compensation for.
Wrongful Death
WKS can be fatal. If you have lost a loved one to WKS, we can file a wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf seeking compensation that will make sure your family doesn’t have to go through financial hardship due to the loss of your loved one.
FAQ
What Causes Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome?
WKS is caused by vitamin B1 deficiency. Thiamine deficiency is often the result of alcohol abuse or malnutrition. It can also result from medical negligence during hospital stays.
Can You Fully Recover From Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome?
Early intervention can stop the symptoms of WKS from worsening. However, WKS is not curable long-term.
What Are the Symptoms of Vitamin B1 Deficiency?
The symptoms of thiamine deficiency include:
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Memory loss
- Difficulty walking
- Numbness, tingling
How Rare Is Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome?
WKS is fairly rare. It occurs in one to two percent of people worldwide.
Contact a Wernicke-Korsakoff Attorney Today
Call us today for a free case evaluation if you or a loved one developed WKS due to medical malpractice.
Our firm has been handling malpractice cases for over 30 years and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of clients. We have the vast experience necessary to recover the most money possible on your behalf.
Remember: we will not charge you any fee to handle your case until and unless we win your case. This means there is no risk behind calling us to talk about your WKS case – you can only gain money by calling us, not lose it. You’ll never owe a single penny out of your own pocket to us.
Let us hold negligent medical providers accountable for the WKS that you or your loved one developed. Call us today for a free consultation.
