Understanding When Oregon Medical Malpractice Cases Sepsis
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “[e]ach year, at least 1.7 million adults in America develop sepsis. Nearly 270,000 Americans die as a result of sepsis.” Sepsis is a very serious and life-threatening complication of an infection that is left untreated. if not treated immediately and appropriately, sepsis can cause permanent and serious life-long effects, or even death. A common reason that an infection leads to sepsis is when an infection is misdiagnosed or improperly managed by a physician or other medical provider. Individuals and family members of those affected living in the state of Oregon who unfortunately were affected by sepsis may be entitled to compensation as a result of Oregon medical malpractice.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with sepsis, ask our experienced Oregon medical malpractice lawyer how we can help protect you rights to compensation after a negligent healthcare provider caused, contributed, failed to diagnose, or otherwise failed to treat or manage your infection or sepsis. We can help ensure you recover the compensation that you deserve for your injuries, pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and damages also affecting your family.
Sepsis and Infections
Sepsis is the result of an infection that is left untreated. The infection can start anywhere in your body, including your respiratory tract, skin, urinary tract, or anywhere else in your body. Any type of infection can cause sepsis, including bacterial, fungal, viral or parasitic. When an infection is either misdiagnosed or diagnosed and treated with improper treatment, it allows the infection to further spread which sends your immune system into overdrive in an attempt to combat the infection. When this happens, your body releases chemicals into the bloodstream in attempt to combat the infection but actually cause severe inflammation throughout the body. The inflammation throughout the body can actually lead to organ damage, brain damage, tissue damage or even death.
People at risk for sepsis include the elderly (over the age of 65), people with weakened immune systems, young children and people with underlying chronic medical conditions. It is important to know however that any individual can be afflicted by sepsis.
Common signs and symptoms of sepsis include elevated temperature, low blood pressure (hypotension), elevated heart rate (tachycardia), confusion, pain, or shortness of breath in some instances.
Why is sepsis left undiagnosed?
Sepsis can be left untreated for many reasons. Some reasons for this include the following:
- Misdiagnosis of infection
- Improper infection management by a healthcare provider
- Prescribing the wrong medication to treat the infection
- Failing to assess the patient appropriately, leading to the provider missing the signs of infection or sepsis
- Understaffed doctors offices or emergency rooms
- Delay in treating a patient in a timely manner
- Inexperienced physicians and other medical staff
- Dismissing a patient’s complaints of illness
- Trying to treat the infection locally rather than systemically (i.e. topical antibiotic for a wound infection rather than oral antibiotics).
- Failing to order testing that may identify the infection
If a patient in Oregon sought medical treatment for an infection that had not yet lead to sepsis but was then improperly treated which lead to sepsis, they should contact our Oregon medical malpractice lawyers.
How our Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Help You
Patients afflicted by sepsis due to a healthcare provider’s wrongful acts may be entitled to something called damages. Damages can be awarded to a victims or family members of sepsis and may include monetary compensation for medical bills, past lost wages, future lost wages, and pain and suffering amongst many other things the victim or family member may be entitled to receive. It is important to note that there is something called a Statute of Limitations for filing your claim. Under Oregon law, you only have a limited time period to file a lawsuit in order for the court to hear your claim. There are many factors regarding the amount of time that you have, but it is not long. Make sure you call our Oregon Medical Malpractice lawyers can review your case and help you determine the best way to file your claim.
How is the physician liable?
If you sought medical attention for an infection that was improperly diagnosed or managed, you may be entitled to compensation for negligence on behalf of the provider. If you attempted to seek treatment for sepsis after you already were experiencing sepsis but your health care team fails to identify and swiftly treat the sepsis, you may also entitled to compensation. If your infection was not properly managed, the physician and health care team are liable. However, it is important to note that if you did ignore symptom and delayed seeking treatment, you may not be eligible for compensation if the physician diagnosis and treats the sepsis in a timely manner.
Ask Help from Our Lawyers at Kuhlman Law
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.