Can I Sue my Hospital for Sepsis Negligence?

Sepsis is often the result of either a delayed diagnosis of another underlying medical condition or an abdominal injury caused inadvertently during surgery.

If the patient suffers a poor long-term outcome as a result of either of these situations, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.

Delayed diagnosis causing sepsis

The abdomen, between the chest cavity and the pelvic region, contains a number of significant organs such as the liver, stomach and intestines. These key parts of the anatomy frequently suffer conditions that require prompt diagnosis and treatment such as the following:

Appendicitis
Diverticulitis
Crohn's disease

If the symptoms of these conditions are not recognised by medical practitioners and treatment is delayed, the lining of the digestive system can rupture and bacteria can leak into the abdominal cavity.

This occurrence can be life-threatening. Bacteria in the abdomen can provoke an infection in the lining of the abdomen, known as peritonitis, and this, in turn, can prompt a disproportionate response by the immune system. This sepsis response can cause a reduction in the oxygen supply to the body's organs, causing them to fail.

A failure to diagnose and treat conditions such as appendicitis, even though the patient had attended their medical professional with the symptoms, may be regarded as substandard care. Where the patient suffers severe, long-term symptoms as a result, a compensation claim may be an appropriate response.

Surgery negligence causing sepsis

Sepsis is also frequently caused by an accident during surgery causing a leak between a section of the digestive system and the abdominal cavity.

The abdomen is a common location for surgery but this complex anatomical region offers plenty of opportunity for errors, causing damage to surrounding structures.

We have found that a number of surgical procedures have led to a bowel perforation and the onset of sepsis as a result.

A hysterectomy
A caesarean section
A laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder operation)
Investigative procedures such as a colonoscopy or endoscopy
Surgery to the uterus
Bowel cancer surgery

Medical negligence

Ideally, the bowel would remain intact during these procedures but, if an accidental perforation of the bowel should occur, an immediate response is required to try to rectify the situation and minimise the chance of peritonitis developing.

In a patient who has recently undergone abdominal surgery, any signs of infection or sepsis should be taken very seriously.

A failure to realise that damage has been caused may be regarded as negligent care.

A failure to diagnose that the patient is developing an abdominal infection and may be suffering from sepsis could, likewise, be regarded as substandard care.

Claiming compensation

If the patient suffers significant on-going symptoms as a result of the above failings, it might be worth considering a compensation claim.

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