Ruptured Bowel Negligence and Compensation Claims
A failure by medical professionals to prevent or diagnose a ruptured or perforated bowel can be life-threatening. It may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
The threat of a ruptured bowel
A ruptured or perforated bowel are terms to describe where a split in the lining of the bowel has occurred. This can mean that the contents of the bowel can leak through the split and enter the abdominal cavity. The problem with this is that the bowel contains bacterial matter which the abdomen is not designed to process. The lining of the abdomen, the peritoneum, can become infected which can, in turn, threaten the patient with sepsis.
Sepsis is most frequently triggered by an abdominal or chest infection. It can lead rapidly to multiple organ failure and death. Where the patient is already susceptible due to pre-existing infection or other factors such as age, a failure to diagnose or prevent a ruptured bowel can be catastrophic.
Long-term implications
- Death of a loved one - where a negligent ruptured bowel has led to the death of the patient, their family will be devastated. It is also possible that the family will have lost their main source of income or provider of support and, as a consequence, are significantly worse off. In these circumstances, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
- Long-term disability - where a patient survives a ruptured bowel and sepsis, they may suffer long-term health problems such as post-sepsis syndrome. The physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties which can be associated with the aftermath of this disabling condition can reduce a person’s capacity to work and earn an income.
Where a poor long-term outcome has been caused by medical negligence, a successful compensation claim can address the issues of loss of income or the costs of care.
Medical negligence
If medical professionals fail to diagnose either the underlying issue which subsequently causes a ruptured bowel, or fail to diagnose the fact that the patient is suffering with a ruptured bowel, they may be regarded as having provided substandard care.
If the patient suffers a poor outcome as a result, it may be possible to make a compensation claim for the financial losses caused by the poor-quality care.
Legal advice
If you or a loved one are struggling with the impact of sepsis due to a negligent ruptured bowel, contact Glynns Solicitors, specialists in medical negligence compensation. One of our team of experienced lawyers will be very happy to talk to you.
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