Surgical Site Infection Compensation Claims
If you are suffering significant, long-term difficulties due to an infection at the site of surgery, it may be appropriate to consider making a claim for compensation.
Infection risk in surgery
By its nature, surgery presents a risk of infection. If an incision to the skin is made during a medical procedure, the patient is at risk of infection. Bacteria may be able to travel through the surgical incision and access the deeper tissue of the body.
Such an infection may leave the patient facing a variety of problems:
- They may need further surgery to deal with the impact of the infection. Should the patient develop necrotising fasciitis, for example, surgical debridement of all infected tissue is required as a matter of emergency
- They may develop sepsis, putting their major organs and very life at risk
- The success of the patient's original surgery may be compromised. For example, if the site of a hip replacement becomes infected, it may be necessary for the new joint to be removed in order to resolve the infection.
Knowing that the risk is present, healthcare professionals should do their utmost to ensure that this does not occur.
Management of infection risk
Management of the risk of infection during surgery requires attention to prevention, diagnosis and treatment should an infection develop.
If either the nature of the surgery or the risk profile of the patient require it, it may be necessary to administer prophylactic antibiotics to the patient prior to surgery to minimise their risk. A failure to do this may allow the patient to succumb to an infection which they would otherwise not have acquired. In these circumstances, the relevant medical professionals may be regarded as having provided substandard care and a claim for compensation may be an appropriate way forward.
Any symptoms or signs which might suggest that a post-operative patient is developing an infection should prompt immediate investigation and treatment. A failure in either diagnosis or treatment can allow an infection to develop with the potential for life-threatening outcomes.
Claiming compensation
If you or a loved one are struggling with severe and on-going difficulties due to the impact of a post-operative infection, it may be appropriate to consider making a claim for compensation.
If your situation is due to the failure of medical professionals to undertake effective management of your infection risk, a successful compensation claim can provide recompense for the impact of your poor-quality care.
Contact Glynns Solicitors to discuss your situation with a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
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