Medical Emergency Failings in Necrotising Fasciitis
Necrotising fasciitis is a medical emergency and a failure to recognise that may leave a patient with life-changing disability. Speak to a solicitor about making a claim for compensation.
Emergency care for necrotising fasciitis
The life-threatening soft-tissue infection necrotising fasciitis is, not surprisingly, a medical emergency.
The bacteria which cause the infection can travel swiftly through the body and cause the decay of all the tissue which they infect. The patient can soon find that they are suffering extensive tissue damage, threatening them with permanent disability and possible even multiple organ failure and death.
If medical professionals, whether at the GP surgery, in Accident and Emergency or on the ward, fail to understand and act on the need for emergency specialist care, leaving the patient to suffer appalling long-term deformity and disability, they may be regarded as negligent. It may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation for the impact of their negligence.
Negligence in necrotising fasciitis care
Failings in medical care which might be regarded as negligent include the following:
- A failure to recognise the possible symptoms of necrotising fasciitis
- A failure to seek specialist advice
- A failure to make a referral for specialist investigation
- A delay in initiating antibiotic treatment and surgical debridement of all infected tissue
The problem with a delay in that it allows time to pass. In that passing of time, the extent of infection which the patient is experiencing is likely to increase. This not only means that there is a greater area of tissue damage but also that, once treatment commences, a greater area of tissue will need to be removed. The long-term implications for the patient and their physical integrity and health worsens.
Making a claim for compensation
If a patient suffers a worse outcome following negligent medical care than should have been the case with an acceptable level of care, they are legally entitled to claim compensation for the impact of the negligence.
A failure by medical professionals to recognise the emergency nature of a necrotising fasciitis infection, and thereby worsen the patient's prognosis, can leave the patient with significant disability. This can affect their ability to work as well as rendering them dependant on some degree of care or household support.
A successful compensation claim would address these financial losses and additional costs.
Speak to a specialist solicitor
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with extensive expertise in necrotising fasciitis claims.
Contact us today to talk to a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim.
We can offer No Win No Fee funding for medical negligence claims which we will discuss with you during your free initial telephone discussion.
Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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