Negligent Hospital Diagnosis and Treatment of Sepsis
Diagnosis and treatment of sepsis is a medical emergency. This dysfunctional immune system response can lead to multiple organ failure and the death of the patient if treatment is delayed.
The impact of treatment delays
Sepsis is a global killer with around 40,000 people dying from the terrible condition in the UK alone every year.
Those who survive are sometimes left with severely debilitating physical, psychological or cognitive difficulties which can affect every aspect of their quality of life.
It might also affect their ability to work.
If the permanent and disabling effects of sepsis are due to poor-quality medical care, it might be appropriate to make a claim for compensation, which can address the issues of pain, suffering and associate financial losses.
Treatment guidelines and delays
If a patient has a diagnosis of sepsis or if sepsis is suspected as an explanation of their symptoms, it is recommended that antibiotics are given within one hour. The patient may also need to be provided with fluids and life support, and additional tests are recommended to try to identify the underlying infection which has triggered the sepsis reaction.
A delay in initiating treatment for sepsis can lead to a catastrophic outcome for the patient. The longer the delay in treatment, the more the patient is likely to suffer.
A delay in treatment may also be regarded as negligent and may justify a claim for compensation for the impact on the patient.
Suspecting and diagnosing sepsis
Signs and symptoms which might suggest that the patient is suffering from sepsis and which should justify further investigation, would include the following:
- Signs of infection such as a fever or shivering
- Severe breathlessness
- Not passing urine
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Discoloured speech
- Feeling extremely ill
Sepsis can sometimes be a response to an abdominal or chest infection so pain in one of those regions may be an additional indicator.
A failure to assess the patient's symptoms and a failure to consider the possible implication that sepsis might be an issue may be regarded as substandard or negligent care.
Get legal advice
If you think you, or a loved one, may have been the victim of medical negligence in relation to sepsis, call Glynns Solicitors today.
We are a specialist medical negligence legal practice with extensive experience of sepsis claims.
Contact us today to discuss your situation, free of charge, with an expert medical negligence solicitor.
Early legal assistance can be vital so please contact us if you would like to discuss your situation. Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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