Liability and Damages When Amputations Due to Misdiagnosed Sepsis is Caused by Portland Medical Malpractice
From a young age we are taught that infections are dangerous. But very few of us are taught about—or even know about—sepsis. This is a life-threatening condition which is a medical emergency. It is also more common than you may believe. According to the CDC, at least 1.7 million adults in the United States develop sepsis and 270,000 die as a result. In fact, one in three patients who die in a hospital die of sepsis. Victims who do not die from sepsis may have permanent health complications as a result. This complications could result in serious personal injuries including amputations. One common hospital mistake is amputations due to misdiagnosed sepsis. This means that some causes of amputations are misdiagnosed sepsis.
This is tragic because there are long-term complications with amputations for a patient’s physical and mental health. An amputation is obviously permanent and irreversible. This leads to significant physical disability and the need for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other vocational re-training. But emotionally, victims may suffer from anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic distress order. These are all compensable forms of damages from Oregon medical malpractice.
What is Sepsis?
Sepsis is the body’s extreme reaction to an infection. The reaction is meant to help fight off the infection by flooding the body with powerful agents to destroy the infection. However, this powerful immune system reaction also causes collateral damage to the body. This collateral damage to the body causes damage to tissue, including brain tissue. The damage is most devastating around the most distal (furtherest) parts of the body. This means that the fingers, toes, hands, feet, legs, and arms are all most susceptible to sepsis damage. When that damage becomes too prolific, it can result in the need to amputate that extremity.
Why is Sepsis Commonly Misdiagnosed?
Sepsis is commonly misdiagnosed due to Oregon medical malpractice for several reasons. These reasons include a basic understaffing of a hospital. When there is a lack of staffing at a hospital that means less patient care and treatment. This includes assessment for infections and other serious conditions like sepsis.
In addition, the other common causes of why sepsis is misdiagnosed include the following:
- Inexperienced staff
- Patient neglect
- Poor pressure sore protocol
- Failing to identify an infection
- Inadequate staffing
- Weak response to a possible infection
- Causing MRSA or other hospital-acquired infections
- Delays in treating a patient
- Delays in transferring a patient to an ICU, and
- Other serious and common causes.
Did Sepsis Result in an Amputation for You? Ask Our Portland Medical Malpractice Lawyer for Help
If sepsis resulted in an amputation, you may be entitled to compensation under Oregon law. This includes for the pain and suffering during sepsis, for the surgery, and after the amputation going through physical therapy. Victims are also entitled to future pain and suffering as a result of their disability. You may also be entitled to medical bills and medications.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
