Sepsis Compensation Claims
Successful sepsis compensation claims often revolve around cases where sepsis has been triggered by a failure to diagnose another significant medical problem which has led to the development of sepsis. Alternatively, it can arise when sepsis develops in a patient who is in hospital recovering from hospital and the sepsis is not identified.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a condition which can develop when the body over-reacts to an infection. It can cause organ dysfunction which can frequently leave the patient with long-term problems. At worst, it cause the death of the patient due to multiple organ failure.
It causes a reduction in blood pressure, meaning that oxygen struggles to reach the organs which, in turn, struggle to carry out their life-supporting functions.
Possible effects of sepsis
The possible long-term effects of sepsis if it is not diagnosed and treated promptly, can be truly shocking:
- Loss of limbs due to the need for amputation
- Loss of hearing
- Loss of sight
All of these permanent effects can transform the patient's life, making it extremely difficult to work, travel, socialise and live independently.
The trauma of suffering sepsis, the impact of a prolonged stay in an intensive care unit and the risk of dying from this horrific condition can leave the patient psychologically damaged as well as physically affected. Suffering with fatigue, anxiety and insomnia among many other symptoms both physical and emotional, post-sepsis syndrome can have an enduring impact on the patient's life.
When a patient does not survive sepsis, their family has to cope not only with the emotional trauma of the loss, but also has to face the future without all the many ways in which that person contributed to family life. That may be in terms of financial contributions or care for the young or the elderly.
Where the appalling outcomes of sepsis are due to a failure to diagnose this common condition, it might be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Health issues which might prompt the development of sepsis
Sepsis can often develop as a result of peritonitis, an infection of the lining of the abdomen.
Peritonitis itself is often the outcome of a failure to diagnose a serious abdominal problem such as the following:
- Diverticulitis, where diverticular pouches in the bowel become inflamed and cause the bowel to rupture, allowing bacterial matter to escape from the bowel in to the abdominal cavity where it infects the peritoneum
- Crohn's disease where the development of scar tissue in the intestine likewise causes the bowel to rupture
- Appendicitis, where the appendix becomes inflamed and bursts
A failure to diagnose these conditions before they cause serious damage to the bowel may be regarded as negligent if the patient had attended their GP or Accident and Emergency facility with indicative symptoms but did not receive either a diagnosis or suitable investigation.
Post-surgical sepsis
Sepsis can also develop following a surgical procedure when a surgical site infection sets in.
Some categories of patient, such as those with diabetes, are more susceptible to this development and pre-surgery prophylactic antibiotics might be necessary. These patients also require close monitoring for signs of infection after surgery to ensure that any problems are identified and dealt with promptly.
Where medical professionals are thought to have failed to provide adequate care to such patients, who subsequently suffer with sepsis, a compensation claim might be a helpful way forward.
Surgical negligence
Sepsis also occasionally develops when an act of negligence during a surgical procedure damages the bowel at some point, allowing bacteria to enter the abdomen.
Where this is not resolved competently at the time and the patient develops sepsis, the relevant medical professional may be regarded as having acted negligently.
Compensation claims
Where the patient and/or their family suffers a significant, long-term impact due to sepsis which is the outcome of a failing in medical care, it would be advisable to speak with a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
Contact Glynns Solicitors to discuss your situation with a lawyer with expertise in this field who can advise you as to the suitability of making a claim for compensation.
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