Over the last decade, California hospitals and medical facilities have seen an increase in hospital-acquired sepsis. Between 2019 and 2021 alone, in-hospital sepsis cases rose by 46% compared to previous years.
Medical negligence and improper medical care that take place during or after surgery are leading causes of hospital-acquired sepsis that can cause catastrophic medical conditions as well as result in wrongful death. If you or a family member have suffered from sepsis at the hands of a medical practitioner, you are entitled to compensation for damages, including medical expenses, current and future care, as well as pain and suffering.
To receive the best possible outcome, it is essential to build your case early to establish validity. Contacting an experienced attorney as soon as possible will provide you with the best tools and resources to receive full compensation. Hospital sepsis cases require proper time to collect and evaluate all essential evidence, connect with expert witnesses, and file your case promptly. Our California Medical Malpractice Lawyers have decades of experience handling complex medical malpractice cases and litigation and are prepared to assist you through the entirety of your hospital-acquired sepsis case.
What Is Hospital-Acquired Sepsis?
Hospital-acquired sepsis refers to when a patient develops a bloodstream infection while they are in treatment for an unrelated condition or procedure. Sepsis and septic shock caused by medical malpractice may lead to life-altering diseases and disabilities, even death, if not treated timely.
According to the Sepsis Alliance, ways that sepsis is acquired through a hospital stay can include but are not limited to:
- Misplaced central line
- Lack of proper hygiene practices leading to concentrated germ exposure
- Surgical site infection
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infections
- Ventilator-associated Pneumonia
It is important to note that many common infections, such as pneumonia, influenza, and urinary tract infections, can lead to sepsis and septic shock. For your case to hold up in court, it is crucial to distinguish that the infection sepsis was the direct result acquired through professional malpractice in a hospital or medical facility.
When Is A Hospital Liable For Sepsis?
All medical practitioners and organizations are required to provide their patients with a certain standard of care throughout all phases of medical treatment. When that standard of care is not met and leads to injury or death, hospitals, doctors, and other practitioners can be held liable for malpractice. Examples of sepsis-related medical malpractice and negligence that can demonstrate liability include:
- Misdiagnosing or failing to diagnose sepsis.
- Neglecting any medical complications or not treating them promptly.
- Not treating infections that later become septic.
- Failure to order necessary tests or correctly interpret results.
- Not administering proper medication to the patient.
- Making errors made during operations and post-operation.
- Not properly disinfecting IV lines and medical equipment.
- Failing to prevent or treat bedsores within a nursing home
Bostwick & Peterson will help you identify what negligence occurred by thoroughly reviewing your medical records and working with medical experts to evaluate the quality of care received, and the missteps that resulted in your condition or a family member’s death. Medical malpractice cases are highly fact-specific; our firm gathers all the necessary details to hold hospitals liable for sepsis.
Proving Medical Malpractice In Sepsis Cases
It is important to hold doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals responsible for causing injury to their patients and their failure to maintain a high standard of care that creates the risk of sepsis-related illnesses. Medical malpractice remains among the most challenging areas of personal injury law due to the many legal nuances, extensive medical terminology, and procedural concepts. Many times, multiple individuals, institutions, and companies can be held liable for collective negligence that causes serious harm or wrongful death.
Working with an experienced firm is essential to the success of your case. Our team of medical malpractice attorneys have the necessary resources to investigate every angle of your case. Our diligence and attention to detail in medical malpractice cases have led to record-setting medical malpractice results.
When To Contact An Attorney for Hospital-Acquired Sepsis
If you or a family member have experienced hospital-acquired sepsis at the hands of a negligent medical provider, do not hesitate to contact a medical malpractice attorney. At Bostwick & Peterson, our decades of experience lead to tremendous results for our clients. James Bostwick and Erik Peterson have been named as two of Northern California's top-rated medical malpractice attorneys and two of the nation's top 100 trial lawyers. You can be confident that our firm will go above and beyond what is needed to help you recover maximum compensation.
Dealing with medical malpractice takes an emotional toll on the victims and their loved ones; let us relieve that burden by taking on your case. Contact us today to schedule a free case consultation.