Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.
Sepsis is a life-threatening bodily response to an infection. Without treatment it leads to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
Sadly, sepsis kills more than 258,000 people each year, according to Sepsis Alliance. That is why the group started their National Sepsis Awareness Month to bring awareness to the public about this deadly infection, and how it can be treated with prompt medical attention and antibiotics.
Every two minutes in the United States someone dies of sepsis, which is more than those from breast cancer, AIDS, and prostate cancer combined, according to the Sepsis Alliance.
Each September, the Sepsis Alliance hosts their awareness campaign to show the world about early recognition. When the signs and symptoms are recognized, and treatment administered promptly, sepsis is treatable.
Sepsis is a common, but very serious infection that affects the body. It is also known as blood poisoning, but affects the tissues and organs of the body as well.
Sepsis stems from a variety of infections, most of which come from bacteria that you encounter daily. A life-threatening infection can develop when the immune system reacts negatively to the bacteria and is left untreated.
Sepsis comes in three stages: sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. Early stages are treatable and often non-fatal. However, once you pass into the second and third stages, the illness is much harder to treat – and the third often leads to death.
Sepsis can happen while you are in the hospital recovering from a procedure, at home a few days, or even weeks after treatment. The following symptoms are warning signs you could have sepsis.
Once sepsis has progressed, you may notice other symptoms which are associated with tissue and organ failure. These symptoms include:
Even healthy adults can develop sepsis. However, most cases of sepsis come from cases of pneumonia, abdominal infection, bloodstream infection, or postoperative infection. An infection can be picked up while at the hospital, fester, and later turn into sepsis.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of cases of sepsis increase every year. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH) states that sepsis causes more deaths in the United States than some forms of cancer.
Sadly, most of these deaths are preventable. Many stem from provider negligence or error – such as a physician or healthcare provider’s failure to recognize the symptoms and treat the infection early enough to prevent death.
Other reasons for the increased numbers of sepsis cases include:
An error by a hospital, healthcare provider, or manufacturer of medical equipment can result in sepsis. Common causes that are directly associated with malpractice or negligence include:
Life Science performed their own research and found that a sepsis condition has devastating consequences; especially in the elderly or those with a compromised immune system. Not only does the victim experience medical consequences, but there emotional tolls as well. Some side effects of sepsis include, but are not limited to:
The most common reason that patients file a wrongful death lawsuit or malpractice case against a physician for sepsis is a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. In this case, the physician either failed to properly diagnose the patient with sepsis – or another type of infection that led to sepsis – or they delayed their diagnosis to the point where sepsis developed.
Not all cases of sepsis are caused by negligence. In fact, sepsis can be caused by the patient themself, or even by unexplained circumstances. If, however, a healthcare provider failed to perform his or her duty and sepsis was the result of the failure, that party could be held liable for the injuries that result from the infection.
If you do have a case of medical malpractice based on sepsis, it is imperative you speak with an attorney. An attorney can review your case and determine if you have sufficient evidence for a malpractice or wrongful death claim.
When successful, your claim may qualify for several types of damages, depending on the extent of your injuries. Some common types of damages include:
If you suspect that you are a victim of a failure to diagnose or treat that led to sepsis, you could receive compensation for your injuries. Speak with an injury advocate from Malman Law today by calling our offices at 888-625-6265, or request an appointment online.
Malman Law’s founder Attorney Steven Malman has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, nursing home, medical malpractice, truck accidents, car accidents, premises liability, construction, and workers’ compensation cases in Chicago, IL.
Years of experience: +30 years
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Illinois Registration Status: Active and authorized to practice law—Last Registered Year: 2024
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by President and Founder, Steven J. Malman who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.