Shockingly, sepsis causes more than 40,000 deaths across the UK every year.
Sepsis, or septicaemia, is commonly known as blood poisoning. It is a rare but serious complication of an infection and if not treated quickly, can lead to multiple organ failure and death. Sepsis can affect anyone from newborns to the elderly and is quite common after childbirth or surgery.
Sepsis develops when chemicals the immune system releases into the bloodstream to fight infection cause an inflammatory reaction. Patients usually experience abnormal heart functions, problems breathing, changes in mental ability and unconsciousness.
Antibiotics are the main treatment for sepsis and getting the treatment quickly is key. The problem for doctors is recognising symptoms before it’s too late. Doctors often fail to spot symptoms of sepsis or mistake them for other conditions such as flu, chest infection or a mental disorder. Worse is a lack of clarity regarding what to do when sepsis is suspected. This leads to delays in treatment and, potentially, to septic shock, organ failure or death. Delays and multi-organ failures that result in delaying diagnosis and the commencement of effective treatment may give rise to a clinical negligence claim.
To avoid clinical negligence claims, doctors should be trained to spot the signs of sepsis and act accordingly. There are tools available to medical practitioners to ensure misdiagnosis of sepsis and potential breaches of duty are avoided. In 2016, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published new, clear guidelines in relation to recognition, diagnosis and early management of sepsis. A new definition of sepsis has also been published - “Sepsis 3” - to enable doctors to assess a patient’s condition, identify symptoms and commence effective treatment.
Cases involving injury or death from sepsis are distressing for claimants and their families. Although medical assistance will have been sought in the early stages, claimants will have been incorrectly reassured by doctors that their illness was not concerning. This is precisely how such a devastating condition may lead to a successful clinical negligence claim.
Author, Alla Kingswood, is a Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury solicitor at Duncan Lewis specialising in representing Claimants who have been victims of life-changing injuries such as brain injuries, serious orthopaedic injuries, amputations or spinal injuries.
Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence Solicitors
The Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence team has significant experience acting in a vast array of claims including unnecessary surgery claims, accident and emergency failures, GP negligence claims, misdiagnosed fractures and wrongful death claims. They also act for children and adults who have suffered profound and permanent brain, spinal or neurological injuries and associated disabilities as a consequence of failings in medical care in both NHS and private hospitals.
If you believe your doctor has made a mistake and wish to claim compensation or have any questions about treatment you have received, please contact our team of solicitors on 0333 772 0409.
