Making a sepsis compensation claim

If undiagnosed or untreated, sepsis can be life threatening. Its symptoms can be difficult to spot, as they can appear as other conditions such as flue or a chest infection, so it is crucial that medical staff react promptly to check for, and treat, sepsis when it appears.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning and septicaemia, is an infection which, according to UK Sepsis Trust, affects around 250,000 people each year and causes 52,000 deaths, approximately 14,000 of which are probably preventable. It occurs when the body responds to an infection and the immune system overacts, which can cause inflammation in many parts of the body and damages organs and tissues.

If not diagnosed and treated quickly, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and can even be fatal. If mistakes during diagnosis have been made which has led to the sepsis getting much worse, you may be entitled to No Win No Fee compensation for medical negligence.

Who is most likely to be at risk of sepsis?

Anyone can get sepsis. However those most at risk include:

• People with a weakened immune system
• People with a serious illness
• Very young children
• Elderly people
• People who have just had surgery or who have injured themselves

What are the common signs of sepsis?

There are several signs which may indicate you have sepsis. These include:

• Slurred speech - you may also feel dizzy, faint, confused, or disorientated
• Extreme shivering - you may have a fever and chills or feel cold and clammy
• Pain of your muscles - you may feel like you have flu
• Severe breathlessness - you may feel like you have a chest infection
• It feels like gastroenteritis - you may suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
• Skin discolouration - your skin may be pale, bluish, mottled or you may have a rash that doesn't fade when you press it

Whatever your symptoms, it's important that you seek medical attention immediately.

What constitutes a sepsis negligence claim?

In cases of sepsis, it’s extremely important to act fast. The UK Sepsis Trust states that patients have a dramatically increased rate of survival, around 80% if it’s diagnosed correctly and treated within an hour of the first symptoms being detected. Therefore, if there are delays in diagnosing and treating sepsis, you may be entitled to compensation.

Mistakes which have led to a medical negligence claim include:

• Misdiagnosis: Where your GP or specialist doctor believed you had a different condition and began treating it, leaving the sepsis to worsen.
• Delays in diagnosis: Where it took a long time to diagnose sepsis - you may have been kept waiting in a hospital or other medical facility.
• Test mistakes: Where the proper tests to diagnose sepsis weren’t carried out.
• Medication mistakes: You were given the wrong medication for sepsis, so treatment wasn’t as effective as it should have been.

If you or a loved one have suffered as a result of medical mistakes when dealing with sepsis, contact one of our specialists who’ll advise you whether or not you’re entitled to sepsis compensation.

Why should I choose Slater and Gordon to make a sepsis negligence claim?

Our sepsis negligence solicitors are some of the best in the country and are highly ranked in independent legal guides such as Chambers and Partners and Legal 500.

The team are highly experienced in dealing with sepsis claims and provide you and your loved ones with the best possible service, not only ensuring that you get the best outcome to your case, but that you get the treatment and additional support you need to assist with your recovery. We’re committed to providing the best support from day one, which is way we also offer home and hospital visits to allow us to provide immediate representation and rehabilitation support; allowing you to focus on recovery while we handle your claim.