Sepsis compensation

How do I make a claim about septicemia

This is specialist work. It is important that your chosen law firm has the legal expertise and the medical knowledge to understand and appreciate what evidence is required and to interpret that evidence when it is obtained.

Your lawyers must also have relationships with the appropriate medical and other experts who can assess your immediate health needs and the support you may urgently require. Their input will be absolutely crucial to your recovery and the success of your compensation claim.

You must be able to prove with the support of our expert lawyers that you received sub-standard treatment and we must be able to prove, on the balance of probabilities, that you suffered harm as a direct consequence of that sub-standard treatment.

Where a diagnosis of sepsis was delayed, either by your GP or hospital staff especially if you were known to be ‘at risk’, that delay could constitute negligence. In cases concerning a negligent failure to take the correct preventative measures or to follow the therapeutic treatments outlined in the ‘Sepsis Six’ guidelines in a timely manner (or not at all), we also have to prove that this lead to the condition which caused the harm you suffered.

If you feel you may have a case, call us as soon as possible for a free initial consultation. There are time limits to making a claim (three years usually). We can give you the benefit of our experience in such claims and an objective assessment of the likely success of your claim.

If I have a case about septicemia

As the claimant the onus will be on you, with our expert assistance, to prove your claim, but such proof need only be on balance of probability (i.e. a greater than 50% likelihood) that the failure of care was indeed responsible for the injuries you have suffered.

A medical negligence compensation claim is quite different to other types of personal injury action. The most important evidence to support your claim will come from independent medical experts whose opinions will be crucial. The choice of expert and the way their evidence is used can influence the amount of compensation you recover.

There are time limits within which you can claim so whatever your circumstances you should contact us as soon as is practicable. These can be complex, lengthy and demanding cases, and the first priority must always be your health.

The lawyers at Shoosmiths are medical negligence specialists and members of specialist panels of the Law Society or patient safety charity AvMA (Action against Medical Accidents). They understand and are able to interpret the medical evidence as well as the law and have the necessary experience and skills to handle your case.

More about septicemia claims

Septicemia is the body’s inflammatory response to bacteria that is invading the bloodstream. This response is exaggerated by a very weak immune system (or an over-zealous one in cases of maternal sepsis) and overwhelms the system, leading to organ failure.

There are a number of factors that can influence a new mother developing maternal sepsis, including Caesarean section and anaemia. However, the biggest risk factor for any victim of septicemia is late or missed diagnosis. Injury and death can be prevented by following the procedures given in the ‘Sepsis Six’ guidelines.

These were developed in 2006 and are endorsed by the UK Sepsis Trust, which suggests that 12,500 deaths could be prevented if they were universally adopted. The guidelines recommend three diagnostic and three therapeutic actions, all delivered within one hour of the initial diagnosis of sepsis.

These consist of administering high flow oxygen, taking blood cultures, giving broad spectrum antibiotics and intravenous fluids and accurately measuring hourly urine output. These simple, but effective, steps have been proven to reduce mortality and decrease the length of stay in hospital.

If your healthcare professional fails to diagnose septicemia or suspects that you may have sepsis but fails to test for it or implement the actions suggested in the ‘Sepsis Six’ guidelines, they will have failed in their duty of care to you and you may have a septicaemia compensation claim.