Claiming Compensation for Delayed Diagnosis of Sepsis
Despite government and charity initiatives, lack of awareness of the symptoms and signs of sepsis continues to cause long-term severe illness and death. A failure by medical professionals to respond to the red flag symptoms may justify a compensation claim.
Compensation for sepsis
The UK Sepsis Trust estimates that five people are killed in the UK by sepsis every hour. They believe that 14,000 lives could be saved each year with early diagnosis.
Sepsis requires an emergency medical response. If medical professionals fail to recognise, diagnose, respond to and treat the symptoms of sepsis, leaving the patient with severe long-term symptoms, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
If you have lost a loved one due to negligence in diagnosing sepsis, likewise, it may be appropriate to make a claim.
Diagnosing sepsis
The symptoms of sepsis are as follows:
- Shivering or chills
- Severe breathlessness
- Confusion
- Slurred speech
- Reduced need to urinate
In order to give patients the greatest chance of survival, medical professionals need a high level of suspicion of sepsis when faced with these symptoms. The NICE guidelines encourage medical professionals to think 'could this be sepsis?'
A delay can prove fatal.
Sepsis risk factors
Patients in certain categories may be more likely to develop sepsis and this should also be taken into account.
- Patients with a weak immune system
- Patient show have recently undergone a surgical procedure
- Patients who are elderly
- Patients who are very young
- Women who are pregnant or who have recently given birth
- Drug users
Where a diagnosis is delayed, treatment will inevitably be delayed also.
Recommendations on the treatment of sepsis require intravenous antibiotics to be administered within one hour of onset of symptoms, along with fluid support and investigations in to the underlying infection.
The impact of sepsis
Where treatment is delayed, the long-term impact on the patient, should they survive can be horrific.
The patient may suffer organ failure, they may suffer blindness and they may lose a limb in the fight for survival. Their immune system may be further weakened by the experience.
Psychologically, the long-term impact can also be significant.
Medical negligence
If medical professionals have failed to diagnose and respond to sepsis, the patient may suffer a poor outcome.
If this is the case, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Speak to a solicitor
Contact Glynns Solicitors for expert medical negligence advice.
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