Sepsis, Septic Shock and Medical Malpractice Claims

According to the Mayo Clinic, sepsis can endanger a patient’s life. Sepsis is an infection complication that is more likely to occur in the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. It occurs when chemicals are released into the bloodstream to fight an infection. The chemicals cause inflammation which can harm the organs or cause them to fail. Sepsis can also cause a quick drop in blood pressure which can kill the patient too. Sepsis can evolve into severe sepsis and then into septic shock.

The odds of a positive outcome increase with the use of antibiotics and intravenous fluids.

The Mayo Clinic diagnosis of sepsis include two of the following:

• A heart rate more than 90 beats per minute
• Body temperate more than 101-degrees F or less than 96.8-degrees F
• Respiratory breathing more than 20 breaths per minute

Patients are diagnosed with severe sepsis if they have one of the following symptoms:

• A decreased platelet count
• A pronounced decrease in urine output
• An abrupt change in mental status
• Breathing problems
• Pain in the abdomen
• The heart isn’t pumping normally

Septic shock is the combination of severe sepsis and very low blood pressure which doesn’t increase with replacement of fluids. The mortality rate is about 50%, meaning half of all patients who go into septic shock will die as a result.

Why sepsis happens

Doctors should anticipate the many reasons sepsis can occur and take preventive measures. Doctors should also inform their patients, when reasonable, about the possibility and dangers of sepsis.

Known sepsis causes include:

• Many nursing home and hospital patients who aren’t moved on a timely basis can develop bedsores which can lead to infections.
• IV lines. Lines which aren’t properly sanitized can lead to infections.
• Operation wounds. Many surgery patients need medications, such as antibiotics, to heal properly. If the medication isn’t properly prescribed, wounds can fail to heal which can lead to infections.
• Infections that aren’t treated. If a doctor doesn’t recognize that a patient has an infection, the patient can develop sepsis and related illnesses.

The most serious of these infections is a bloodstream infection, which can travel quickly to all parts of the body. Such infection can lead to organ failure, and even tissue necrosis in some cases. If left untreated, it can cause the death of the patient.

Causes of medical malpractice for sepsis patients

Sepsis is very serious, and lack of diagnosis or treatment can prove fatal. In many cases, the patient could have a medical malpractice claim if his or her doctor failed to prevent, diagnose or treat the condition and subsequent infection. You may have a claim for malpractice if any of the following acts of negligence were related to you developing sepsis, and if you sustained damages as a result of that negligence:

• Failing to recognize a patient has an infection
• Not recognizing a patient has sepsis
• Not treating the infection or sepsis quickly and properly
• Not taking the right blood, urine, and wound secretion tests
• Not giving the patient the right antibiotics
• Not administering the antibiotics properly
• Not cleaning the IV lines
• Not giving the patient the right fluids
• Not considering and implementing other reasonable medical treatments such as corticosteroids, catheters, and renal replacement therapy
• Not properly informing the patient, or failing to get necessary informed consent

Speak with an experienced Tennessee medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. Early intervention can help your medical care. Early counseling can help increase the ability to prove liability. If a loved one died due to sepsis or their life was altered, you may have a medical malpractice case. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC., our Memphis medical malpractice lawyers have been helping personal injury victims are respected throughout the state for our ability to obtain just settlements and trial verdicts. Please call us now at 901-680-9777 or use our contact form. Our lawyers fight for clients in Memphis, Jackson, West Tennessee, and the surrounding areas.