Hyperkalemia is a term for abnormally high levels of potassium in the bloodstream, it actually has a number of causes but it is not the term used to describe the body being unable to absorb potassium, that falls under the category of nutrient mal-absorption. But even with nutrient mal-absorption the body still absorbs some potassium, if the body suddenly stopped being able to absorb ALL potassium death would occur within days, not months and certainly not a year. In most cases hyperkalemia is actually very treatable and rarely leads to death with proper treatment.
While talking with ADA Steele and Finn about a plea deal Julie Phelps quotes a statistic on capital cases where the prosecution's key witness is not allowed to testify causes the acquittal rate to increase by at least 30%. However Mrs. Phelps is not charged with a capital crime, she is on trial for murder in the second degree. A capital crime is one where the sentence could potentially be the death penalty; the most severe sentence for murder in the second degree is life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. There are only two criminal charges in the state of New York that qualify as capital crimes: murder in the first degree and aggravated murder.