When Can I Claim Compensation for Sepsis?
Sepsis can be a medical emergency and the outcome is not always good. It is not, however, always a sign of medical negligence. When would it be appropriate to make a claim for compensation?
Failing to diagnose sepsis symptoms
If a patient consults a medical professional with signs or symptoms of sepsis but those symptoms are not recognised and the appropriate action is not taken, it might be regarded as negligent care. If a thorough examination is not made and symptoms are missed, allowing a patient's condition and long-term outcome to deteriorate, it might be regarded as substandard care.
Causing sepsis through negligent care
- A failure of care during bowel or abdominal surgery can lead to a perforation of the bowel and trigger an abdominal infection and sepsis. Where this is not resolved, it may be regarded as negligent and when it causes the patient to suffer debilitating long-term problems, it may be appropriate to make a claim.
- Where a patient does not receive an adequate level of care during their stay in hospital, developing infection and sepsis, it may be regarded as negligent.
When to claim compensation
It is the legal right of a patient to claim compensation if negligent or substandard medical care has caused them a poor long-term outcome and financial losses.
If a claim is to be successful, it is necessary for a solicitor to be able to demonstrate that negligence, or a breach of duty, actually occurred and that this act of negligence caused the patient to suffer harm. If that is proved, the patient can make a claim for the impact caused by that negligence.
A successful claim would include any financial losses caused by the impact, such as a loss of income due to restricted ability to work or the need for personal care.
It is also important to remember that claims for compensation for medical negligence have to be initiated within three years of the date of the alleged negligence. Although there are occasionally circumstances where this limitation date can be extended, it is best to contact a specialist solicitor a long time in advance of this date so that they can undertake a thorough investigation of your medical care and judge the validity of your claim.
Legal specialists
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with a team of specialist solicitors, all of whom are experts in this field of law.
Contact us today if you or a loved one are struggling with the on-going impact of sepsis due to negligent medical care.
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