Is it true that a timely diagnosis of sepsis can prevent amputations?
Yes, a timely diagnosis of sepsis can prevent amputations and physicians have an ethical and legal responsibility to provide this duty of care to their patients. A delayed diagnosis (or no diagnosis at all) may result in serious harm to patients, and in the more serious of cases, it has caused deaths across the nation. A personal injury lawyer also represents families who lost a loved one under these circumstances. Request a free consultation with a member of our legal team if you would like to know your legal options if you were forced to undergo an amputation due to a delayed sepsis diagnosis.
What are the signs of sepsis?
Not only is it true that a timely diagnosis of sepsis can prevent amputations, the symptoms of sepsis are usually clear enough that a reasonably competent physician should have no trouble making that diagnosis. Though anyone is vulnerable to developing serious complications due to sepsis, some persons are more at risk than others. Those patients who have certain existing conditions such as cancer, diabetes, or have compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable. This group also includes the elderly and newborns. It is the responsibility of the physician and other medical caregivers to recognize the imperative nature of diagnosing sepsis at its onset. If they do not, then they cannot provide the level of treatment needed in order to prevent the risk of further complications and the need for amputations. The patient’s physician as well as others on the hospital staff such as nurses and nurse practitioners are also expected to be able to recognize the symptoms associated with sepsis at its earliest stages. Their training includes an understanding that a timely diagnosis of sepsis can prevent amputations and so it is imperative to make that diagnosis as soon as symptoms first present.
These are some of the most common symptoms of sepsis:
- A pattern of erratic breathing
- Joint and muscle pain or discomfort
- Extremely hot or cold body temperature
- A fast deterioration of heartbeat after a rapid rate
- A deterioration of mental awareness
- Chronic fatigue
- Severe skin issues
- Pain associated with the urinary tract
- Systolic blood pressure declines significantly
What are my legal options if I was harmed by my physician because of a delayed diagnosis?
In light of the fact that a timely diagnosis of sepsis can prevent amputations, when there is clear evidence that a physician did not provide an adequate level of care, the patient can file an injury claim or a lawsuit with the help of a medical malpractice attorney. Without a timely diagnosis, the patient stands to suffer considerably and may lose one or more of their limbs which should have been entirely avoidable for the negligence of their physician.