Necrotising Fasciitis Compensation
Necrotising fasciitis can be the cause of high-value compensation claims for medical negligence. What can go wrong and why is the impact so destructive to the patient?
What is necrotising fasciitis?
Necrotising fasciitis is a soft-tissue infection. It generally affects the deep tissue layers beneath the skin.
It is usually triggered by one or a combination of pathogens entering the body and releasing toxins which cause the destruction of surrounding tissue. This can lead to multiple organ failure and death.
Because it is a fast-spreading infection, the deterioration of the body's life-support systems can occur rapidly. This means that necrotising fasciitis is associated with a high mortality rate, even when treatment is attempted.
The devastating impact of necrotising fasciitis
The destructive impact of necrotising fasciitis is caused both by the impact of the infection itself, but also by the effect of the necessary treatment.
The effect of the infection on the body's tissue means that a patient with necrotising fasciitis is likely to have an extended stay in an intensive care unit, undergoing life support.
Unfortunately, the treatment for necrotising fasciitis is also damaging to the body. In order to remove infected tissue from the body and prevent further infection, it is necessary for the patient to undergo extensive debridement or surgical removal of all infected tissue.
This can result in the removal of significant areas of skin, muscle and tissue before the patient is free of infection.
In the worst scenarios, it may even be necessary for the patient to have a limb amputated in order to save the patient's life.
Survivors of necrotising fasciitis are likely to require further surgery such as skin grafts to repair the areas of the body damaged by both the infection and the treatment.
Causes of compensation claims
Delayed treatment
Necrotising fasciitis is a medical emergency and a delay in the commencement of antibiotic administration and debridement surgery can have a significant impact on the extent of debridement that is subsequently necessary and the patient's chances of a positive outcome. The chances of dying from necrotising fasciitis are thought to be considerably higher when surgical treatment is delayed beyond 24 hours after the onset of symptoms.
If appropriate treatment is delayed despite an accurate diagnosis, the medical professionals involved may be guilty of negligence.
Delayed Diagnosis or Misdiagnosis
Initial symptoms of necrotising fasciitis may be hard to diagnose but a prompt diagnosis is vital to the long-term well-being of the patient.
A patient is likely to exhibit flu-like symptoms such as a high temperature and a fast heartbeat but often the patient will also be experiencing intense pain and tenderness in the area of infection, along with redness of the skin.
A failure to refer a patient for further investigation when this combination of symptoms occurs may constitute a substandard level of care.
In-hospital Infections
We have been consulted on a number of necrotising fasciitis cases where the infection has developed whilst the patient has been in hospital for another condition.
In these cases, the infection may have occurred as a result of a failure to provide prophylactic antibiotics prior to surgery, or due to inadequate monitoring of a patient who has had to spend extended periods of time immobile due to their condition and is, therefore, vulnerable to the development of pressure sores.
Contact a solicitor
If you or a loved one have suffered with the appalling effects of necrotising fasciitis where an earlier diagnosis or prompter treatment could have produced a better outcome, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.
Glynns Solicitors is a specialist medical negligence legal practice. Contact us to discuss your experience and whether or not it would be appropriate for you to pursue a claim.
Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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