What You Should Know About Filing a Sepsis or Septic Shock Lawsuit
Doctors must always take infections seriously. Even a minor case of inflammation can lead to serious health issues if not addressed quickly. That is definitely the case with sepsis, which can occur as a result of an infection or a complication from surgery.
Our Brooklyn medical negligence attorneys take a look at septic shock and its symptoms. If you or a family member developed septic shock and it was not diagnosed or treated properly by a doctor, your lawyers can help you file a lawsuit.
Sepsis Explained
Once referred to as blood poisoning, sepsis is a condition that is caused by bacteria from a local infection spreading into the bloodstream. The bacteria entering the bloodstream triggers the immune system to work much harder, resulting in inflammation all over a person’s body.
When sepsis occurs, people will experience a drop in blood pressure, which impedes the flow of oxygen to major organs. Left untreated, sepsis can lead to organ failure and may even be fatal.
Common Warning Signs of Septic Shock
Early detection of sepsis is the best way to prevent severe illness and death. Some of the most common symptoms of septic shock include:
- High heart rate
- Weakened pulse
- High fever or low body temperature
- Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
- Confusion or disorientation
- Slurring of speech
- Shallow breathing
- Severe bodily pain
- Sweating or clammy skin
If you notice any of these above symptoms, be sure to seek medical attention right away.
Doctor Errors and Sepsis/Toxic Shock Diagnosis
If you are in a hospital recovering from surgery and develop sepsis, it’s important that doctors and nurses act quickly. The same is true if you go to the emergency room or urgent care complaining of the symptoms of septic shock we’ve listed above.
When sepsis or any serious medical condition is misdiagnosed, it can be fatal. This also applies to a delayed diagnosis of sepsis since the condition can lead to death if not treated within a few hours.
How Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Help
In the case of misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of sepsis, affected patients or the loved ones of the affected patient can file a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Our attorneys in Brooklyn can help you recover damages for medical expenses and any changes to your quality of life because of the diagnosis error. If you lost a loved one because of a doctor’s failure to diagnose sepsis or to treat septic shock in a prompt manner, we can help you file a wrongful death claim.
Rest assured that our attorneys are ready to assist you. We will not be intimidated by insurance representatives or the legal teams that hospitals and medical facilities have in place.
Contact Our Law Firm for Legal Help
To learn more about your legal options when a doctor fails to provide life-saving care, contact our Brooklyn law office today. We are located between Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Brooklyn near Brooklyn Borough Hall. We are proud to serve all of Kings County and be an advocate for patients.