Can I Claim For Sepsis Negligence? (UPDATED)
October 22, 2018
It can be difficult to claim for sepsis negligence, but if you wish to consider the option, then you should be clear about these essential factors. For those wondering, we’ll refer to it throughout as sepsis, but other names include blood poisoning or septicaemia.
To Claim for Sepsis Negligence, You Need to Know What Sepsis Is
When the human body is fighting an infection, the immune system responds proactively. This is essential, true. But it can result in side-effects such as body-wide inflammation and potential damage to both organs and body tissue. This, in short, is sepsis, and the results can be life-threatening when mistreatment occurs.
That’s why early diagnosis and treatment is essential, too. Moreover, cases that medical professional identify within the first hour result in an 80% survival rate. In essence, the longer that sepsis goes without treatment, the lower the chances of survival.
Most common sepsis compensation claims
The threat of illness, permanent injury, or even death as the result of mistreated sepsis is often common. But it’s not uncommon for those that suffer accordingly to seek financial compensation.
Mistreatment cases for sepsis are not, however, always the result of clinical negligence. But if you or someone you know does suffer, then you may deserve compensation. You may suffer due to substandard medical treatment, delayed diagnosis, or treatment option misjudgements. Common cases can, in fact, include:
- Early discharge from treatment, for instance.
- Lack of antibiotics to treat sepsis as well.
- Inappropriate treatment, such as failing to drain infected areas.
- Inadequate treatment that, in turn, leads to a far too early discharge from medical care, also.
- Midwives who fail to treat newborns in the days following delivery.
A Claim for Sepsis Negligence and the Breach of Duty
No matter the preventative steps that the medical practitioner takes, it is still possible for sepsis to continue developing. That’s why it can be difficult to establish a breach of duty when seeking compensation in sepsis cases.
The symptoms of blood poisoning can both mimic less serious illnesses, and/or also be non-specific in nature. That makes misdiagnosis a common issue, and that makes a breach of duty very challenging to determine. Consider these factors when assessing your medical injury claims.
- Do you have evidence that shows a patient doesn’t receive a referral to a hospital? Or that they were receive a discharge while still showing clear signs of sepsis symptoms?
- Did the medical facility take blood tests when the patient showed consistent symptoms?
- Did medical practitioners take blood cultures? Also, did the patient receive sufficient CT or MRI scans on the relevant parts of the body?
- Was the patient given adequate prophylactic or empiric antibiotic treatment?
- Did the patient’s infections receive adequate drainage or removal?
Resulting issues
Are you making a compensation claim for medical negligence cases for issues regarding sepsis? If so, you’ll need to show that the correct care and treatment would produce a better outcome for the patient. This may require a variety of professional experts to offer their contributions and analyses. In short, for any medical negligence claim including where you developed sepsis, a medical negligence team can go a long way.
Causation can be very problematic to determine due to the difficulties in diagnosing sepsis. Furthermore, there needs to be consideration for the small time frame to become life-threatening or fatal. With elements to consider such as multiple organ failure and death, you ignore negligent treatment of sepsis at your own risk. Other cases might involve sepsis that develops into septic shock, thus causing blood pressure to drop.
How much can you claim?
The amount of compensation you may receive by proving breach of duty hinges on the circumstances of the case. This could range from payments of a few hundred pounds to millions of pounds. For the former, think of those who suffer from a long course of pain or suffering. In contrast, you can secure compensation up to seven-figures where you suffer permanent physical or mental impairment.
Then, there’s cases where the patient dies due to medical negligence. Accordingly, factors such as the personal circumstances of the patient will be taken into account. Moreover, relationship status and the number of dependents help determine the total compensation amount that may go out.
Sepsis cases can also be traumatic for the patient and their families. Often, with more damaging mental incapacitation, families find themselves claiming on behalf of a family member.
If you think you have a case to claim for sepsis negligence, contact a medical solicitor as early as possible. Disputes will have a certain time limit in which to make your claim, though. In effect, it’s imperative that you start proceedings sooner rather than later.
No Win No Fee* Claims for Sepsis Negligence
The last thing you need to worry about if you have been injured through medical negligence is how you are going to pay for a solicitor to help you make a compensation claim, which is why we represent clients on a No Win No Fee* basis.
Before you have to make any decisions, take advantage of our free legal consultation. We will arrange for you to speak with an expert who will investigate the circumstances around your injury and advise whether your claim is likely to be successful.
If we think that you can win compensation, we’ll offer to represent you on a No Win No Fee* basis.
In turn: if you win, you’ll pay your solicitor a percentage of your compensation as a success fee. Both you and the solicitor agree on this percentage before you start your claim. Above all, everything has to occur in a transparent way.
If your claim is not successful then we will waive our legal costs, and you pay nothing.
There is a statutory limit for making a claim so get in touch with The Medical Negligence Experts as soon as possible. Proving negligence can be difficult but starting earlier often means than supporting evidence is easier to obtain. Even if you are not sure whether you have grounds to claim, talking to a solicitor who specialises in medical negligence claims can help you understand your legal rights and make the best choice for you.
Contact The Medical Negligence Experts today to arrange your free, no-obligation consultation and find out how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.