Making a sepsis medical negligence claim
A brief guide to the legal issues involved in making a sepsis medical negligence claim.
Sepsis failings causing deaths
The BBC has reported that the UK’s health ombudsman is warning that too many people are dying from sepsis and mistakes which were being made over 10 years ago are still repeatedly being made.
It has been estimated that 48,000 people are dying from sepsis each year in this country, and approximately 25% of them deaths are preventable. A report was undertaken in 2013 which found that sepsis was not being diagnosed and treated quickly enough and in a new report it has been said that “significant improvements” are needed to avoid more deaths.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition, which is usually caused by an infection within in the body. If your body is unable to fight the infection, this can lead to organs being unable to function properly. Sepsis is a serious condition, which can turn to septic shock if it is not treated. If left untreated, can cause permanent damage to the lungs, kidneys, liver, and other organs, and can ultimately be fatal.
For further information you can watch this short video made by the UK Sepsis Trust on the facts about sepsis:
Signs of Sepsis
Signs of sepsis include;
- Confusion;
- Chills;
- Fever, or low body temperature;
- Rapid heartbeat;
- Skin rash, or mottled skin;
- Warm skin;
- Light-headedness; and
- Slurred speech.
Sepsis medical negligence claims
The head of our medical negligence department, Oliver Thorne, was involved in a two-week inquest into the death of Maddy Lawrence. Maddy suffered a hip dislocation while playing rugby for her university. She was subsequently transferred to Southmead Hospital, in Bristol. Whilst in hospital there was a failure to recognise the early warning signs of sepsis, which contributed to her tragic death.
“Maddy’s Training” is a new training regime which has been implemented by The North Bristol NHS Trust, in memory of Maddy. This training will be mandatory to all medical staff, to help them understand the NEWS Chart (a national early warning score) and to be able to pick up on any patients whose conditions are deteriorating.
We encounter sepsis diagnosis delays far too often and our experienced team are here to help with making a sepsis medical negligence claim. Please contact our helpline team for a review of your case free of charge and details of our No Win, No Fee funding scheme.
Call us on freephone 0333 888 0412 or email brief details of your case to us in complete confidence at [email protected]