Septic Arthritis Diagnosis Delays and When to Claim Compensation
Speak to a specialist solicitor if you or a loved one have suffered negligent medical care of septic arthritis.
The timing of diagnosis in septic arthritis
The timing of diagnosis for a patient with septic arthritis is crucial to the quality of the outcome. Without a diagnosis or with a misdiagnosis, treatment will be delayed and the patient's long-term prospects are likely to deteriorate.
Whether in the GP surgery or in hospital, signs and symptoms of septic arthritis in a joint should prompt an immediate response.
An infection in a joint, often the knee, septic arthritis has the potential to cause long-term disability, including the need for an amputation, and can even cause the death of the patient if this debilitating infection triggers sepsis.
Medical negligence
Patients who have recently undergone joint surgery or suffered an injury, those with an already-existing infection and those with a compromised immune system are most at risk.
A failure to recognise the possible symptoms of septic arthritis and a failure to make an appropriate referral for specialist investigation and treatment may be regarded as negligent and may justify a claim for compensation which would address the impact of the negligence on the patient's long-term quality of life.
The impact of this appalling infection can be wide-ranging but in some cases can prove to be life-changing, rendering the patient reliant on care and struggling to work.
If such a distressing outcome is found to be the result of a delay in diagnosis due to negligent care on the part of a medical professional, it may be possible to make a claim for compensation.
Such a claim would address, where appropriate and insofar as it has been caused by the negligence, the patient's loss of earnings (both past and future), the costs of care and equipment as well as recognising the patient's pain, suffering and loss of amenity.
When to claim compensation
In essence, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation when it is clear that an act of negligence by a medical professional has taken place and that that negligence has caused the patient to suffer a worse outcome than would have been the case with an acceptable level of care.
In terms of timing, it is important to contact a specialist solicitor to investigate the quality of your care as soon as possible.
Not only for the obvious reason that, the sooner your claim is submitted, the sooner you will receive compensation if appropriate, but also because claims for compensation for medical negligence are associated with specific deadlines.
Your claim must be submitted with a court within three years of the date of the alleged negligence. A thorough investigation into the quality of your medical care needs to be carried out before this date and will form a part of your claim.
Free legal advice
Glynns Solicitors are specialists in medical negligence law with a team of experienced lawyers and a history of success in complex, high-value claims.
Contact us today to talk to a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim.
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