Sepsis is a medical condition that can be life-threatening. It mostly occurs in people who have a weak immune system like ill hospital patients, the elderly, children, people in nursing homes, or patients that need to use urinary catheters or breathing tubes. When sepsis is detected early, it responds well to treatment, but if the detection of sepsis is done too late, a person can either get severely injured or die as a consequence.
Sepsis is most commonly known as “blood poisoning”. It happens when bacteria enters through a wound like a bed sore and the immune system responds with full force. The intensity of the reaction of the immune system can create more damage than good to the human body. In other words, the infection itself may not have been as threatening as the reaction of the body’s immune system against the bacteria. The Miami Sepsis malpractice lawyers understand the severity that sepsis brings. If a medical professional fails to treat sepsis in time, a person can die from it.
What Occurs Once a Person Has Sepsis?
What happens after a person has developed sepsis? Once a person has contracted sepsis, the immune system is unable to stop the tiny blood clots that form in the body due to its full force activity against the condition. The whole body becomes inflamed when the development of tiny blood clots form when the heart and organs do not receive an adequate amount of oxygen. If sepsis is suspected, a doctor will usually order lab work and blood tests.
Once sepsis has been diagnosed, antibiotics will be given as an aggressive treatment in an intensive care unit while being closely monitored. The drugs will be administered intravenously. If sepsis is beyond the initial stage, additional measures may need to be taken for its treatment. Even mild sepsis can lead to death. 15% of patients who experience mild sepsis end up dying from it and 50% of people for more severe cases, reported by Mayo Clinic’s Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
It is important to immediately alert medical professionals if suspicion of sepsis is present. The faster the administration of treatment is done, the more odds a person diagnosed with sepsis has in surviving. The review of the victim’s situation is assessed by a Miami Sepsis lawyers at Percy Martinez Law Firm. They provide legal help and guidance.
When Negligence Leads to a Lack of Treatment
Sepsis is a common illness that occurs all around the nation. Although it occurs quite frequently, most of the time it constitutes a medical malpractice claim. Physicians may misdiagnose a sepsis illness for the simple flu because the symptoms are similar. When a misdiagnosis occurs, a delay in treatment, while it is still in the early stages can occur. This can cause the illness to develop more aggressively, hindering the chances of survival.
Another type of negligence would be when a doctor recognizes that a patient has sepsis but does not act in a timely manner and efficiently to combat the illness. When there are signs of infections, the physician should perform an examination thoroughly. Even though a physician might deem it to be the simple flu merely by observing the patient, additional tests should be administered to ensure that it is not another illness like sepsis.
Signs and Symptoms of Sepsis
Sepsis may be confused with the common flu. Some signs and symptoms include:
- Cold shivers
- Temperature above 101.3 Fahrenheit or below 95 Fahrenheit
- Dizziness
- When the heart rate is more than 90 beats per minute
- Confusion
- More than 20 respirations per minute
- Skin can appear mottled
- Urine frequency will decrease
- May be difficult to breathe
- Diarrhea
Sepsis Occurrence and Deaths
The elderly tend to contract Sepsis more than any other age group. Although it can affect anyone, those over the age of 65 are more susceptible, especially in nursing homes. Here are some statistics on sepsis:
- 4 in every 10 patients with severe sepsis die
- 1999–2014, 6% of the total deaths( 2,470,666 ) were caused by sepsis
- 22% of the deaths were an underlying cause of sepsis
- In 2008, 539.9 people out of every 10,000 over the age of 85 were hospitalized for sepsis
Sepsis Medical Malpractice Cases
Misdiagnosing Sepsis
In 2007, a man was admitted to the hospital and died a day after of sepsis. The doctors and medical staff failed to properly treat his condition. The family of the victim was awarded $1.44 million for the wrongful death caused by sepsis. They misdiagnosed the sepsis for pneumonia.
Failing To Diagnose Sepsis
A 52-year old man visited two hospitals before he died from a septic shock due to sepsis. The man went to the hospital complaining of pain in the abdomen and lower back but was only given pain medication and muscle relaxant. The second hospital gave him anti-inflammatory drugs before discharging him. The man ended up suffering cardiac arrest and dying as a result. The family of the man was awarded $1.835 million as it was determined that the man was suffering from septic shock
Failing to Administer Antibiotics
In 2009, a man was awarded $11.3 million. The hospital did not administer the volume of antibiotics correctly which led to the creation of sepsis. As a result, the man lost his four limbs before the knees and elbows.
Miami Sepsis Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Sepsis can be treated when it is detected early on. Once it reaches a later stage, the treatment can have no effect on it and a person can be severely injured and even die as a result. When a medical professional does not diagnose this condition on time and lacks treating it, a person can be severely injured and even die as a result. The evaluation of the victim’s case can be performed by a Miami Sepsis medical malpractice lawyers at Percy Martinez Law Firm. The Miami lawyers have looked over many cases involving sepsis patients that were caused by negligent acts or omissions. They are there to help.
RELATED TYPES OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
RELATED SERVICES OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
- Anesthesia Mistakes
- Plastic surgery malpractice
- Erbs Palsy
- Brain Injury
- Nursing Home
- Hospital Negligence
- Emergency Room
- Birth Injury
- Amputation Malpractice
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