Making a Compensation Claim for Delayed Osteomyelitis Diagnosis
A delay in diagnosing and treating osteomyelitis can leave the patient disabled. It may also justify a claim for compensation for medical negligence.
A prompt diagnosis of osteomyelitis is likely to lead to prompt treatment with antibiotics and recovery. However, a delay in diagnosing this bone infection will lead to a deterioration in the both the patient's immediate condition and their long-term outcome.
Symptoms and diagnosis
The symptoms of osteomyelitis include pain in the bone, possible redness and swelling as well as signs of infection such as a high temperature.
A willingness to suspect this life-threatening condition and a prompt referral for further investigation are essential.
The patient will require a blood test and may need to undergo an x-ray, an MRI scan or a biopsy.
It is also important to consider other factors such as whether the patient is diabetic, which may increase the likelihood of osteomyelitis, and whether they have recently undergone surgery or are suffering from an injury or wound which may have increased the risk of this infection.
Long-term impact of osteomyelitis
The long-term effect of a delay in diagnosing osteomyelitis can be extremely serious. If the spine is affected by this infection, it can cause severe damage to the nerves and associated loss of function. This may compromise the patient's mobility, rendering them reliant on a wheelchair.
Osteomyelitis can also trigger a sepsis response which can overwhelm the immune system and lead to multiple organ failure and threaten the life of the patient.
A delay in diagnosis may also mean that the damage to the bone is such that it causes the patient deformity and disability.
Medical negligence
A failure to consider the possible implications of the patient's symptoms, a delay in arranging for additional tests or a misdiagnosis leading to a delay in treatment may be regarded as negligent.
Claiming compensation
Compensation claims are extremely complex and require the skills of a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
It is also important to be aware that there are legal limits regarding the timing of compensation claims for medical negligence. A compensation claim must be initiated within three years of the date of the alleged negligence.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one are struggling with the long-term impact of a delay in diagnosing and treating osteomyelitis, contact Glynns Solicitors.
We are a specialist medical negligence legal practice with wide-ranging expertise and experience. Contact us today to talk to a lawyer free of charge about your situation.
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