I’m sorry to hear about your medical issues. However, you are not alone. The National Institutes of Health report that over a million Americans develop sepsis every year, and tens of thousands die as a result. Sepsis is a complication that comes from an infection. It occurs when chemicals that are released into the bloodstream to fight an infection trigger an inflammatory response throughout the body.
Experts believe the number of sepsis cases will continue to rise. This is partially because Americans are living longer, and sepsis can be common among the elderly population. Also, there has been an increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant infections, which can lead to the development of sepsis.
Sepsis can be difficult to diagnose. Some symptoms of sepsis include fever, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, chills, discolored skin, disorientation, and unconsciousness. All of these symptoms can also be present with other medical conditions. In addition, there is no specific test to give for sepsis. Doctors can do cultures, but they could come back with a false-negative if the patient was recently on antibiotics.
Even though it is difficult to diagnose, that does not mean that your doctor may not potentially be held liable for medical malpractice if he or she failed to diagnose your condition. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional fails to give the appropriate level of care to a patient and he or she is harmed as a result. Medical malpractice cases are evaluated on a case by case basis.
If you or a loved one developed sepsis that was not properly diagnosed, and you are in the Los Angeles area, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles medical malpractice attorney, at 310-385-0567. I can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.