Sepsis and Medical Negligence Compensation
Almost 50,000 deaths each year in the UK are related to sepsis. Not all of these need to occur. Earlier diagnosis and treatment could save lives and ensure a better quality of life for those who survive the ravages of this appalling condition.
Sepsis is the body's dysfunctional response to an infection, often an abdominal or lung infection. From what might appear to be an insignificant start, this immune-system response can leave a patient devastated. It can also kill them as the body's major organs struggle to function.
Red flag signs and symptoms
Rd flag symptoms are those which should prompt an individual to seek emergency medical help.
For sepsis, the red flag symptoms could include the following:
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain,
- Severe breathlessness
- Not needing to urinate
- Confusion or slurred speech
- Discoloured or mottled skin appearance
Suspecting sepsis
Suspecting sepsis is key to increasing a patient's chances of survival from this shocking condition. Considering that a patient just might be developing sepsis and taking the appropriate emergency action could save the patient's life.
Suspecting sepsis prompts further investigation and the identification of the underlying infection. It can necessitate emergency antibiotic treatment, helping the patient's body to tackle the illness.
Failing to recognise what the patient's symptoms might indicate may leave the patient facing a life sentence. Even those who survive can suffer traumatic long-term effects, including loss of sight, loss of a limb and post-sepsis syndrome.
Medical negligence
Substandard medical care can contribute to a patient's poor experience of life-threatening sepsis in a variety of ways:
- a delay in recognising that a patient's symptoms might suggest sepsis may be regarded as substandard care
- a delay in organising treatment for sepsis one a diagnosis is suspected may be regarded as negligent
- causing a patient to develop sepsis through a bowel perforation due to negligent surgery or a failure to identify a severe bowel disorder such as crohn's disease, may be regarded as substandard care.
Seek legal advice
If you or a loved one have suffered the appalling effects of sepsis due to poor-quality medical care, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
A successful compensation claim can help the victim of medical negligence to cope with the many and appalling effects of their illness including the loss of income due to poor health or loss of mobility.
Glynns Solicitors is a specialist medical negligence legal practice with wide-ranging experience provided by a team of specialist solicitors.
Contact us today.
Can We Help You With A Medical Negligence Enquiry?
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.
Make An Enquiry
Why Choose Us
- Specialist medical negligence solicitors
- Free initial enquiries
- No win, no fee available
Reviews
"I would like to say a big thank you to you for making this whole process easy and relatively painless. You kept me informed throughout and you were always polite and courteous in all forms of communication. I would not hesitate to recommend you to friends and family, so a really big thank you and I wish you all the best in the future."
Mr A.
Our Expertise
Helping Clients Across England & Wales
Free Medical Negligence Guide
'7 Questions You Must Ask Before Choosing A Medical Negligence Solicitor'