Family Medicine Physician Fails to Order Adequate Follow Up for Vitamin Deficient Patient

Case Overview

This case involves an elderly male patient who had recently undergone gastrointestinal surgery who presented to the hospital with nausea, vomiting, as well as a significant decrease in appetite. While at the hospital, doctors performed a battery of tests, including an endoscopy and CT scan of his abdomen which showed a contracted stomach. A few days after being discharged from the hospital, the patient presented to his family medicine physician with ongoing complaints of nausea and vomiting, however his doctor did not order any additional follow up. A month later, the patient presented to the emergency room with significantly altered mental status. Eventually, the patient was diagnosed with a severe vitamin D deficiency due to malnutrition, which resulted in a brain injury.