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Ohio Failure to Diagnose and Treat Sepsis Lawyers
Fighting for patients when doctors commit medical malpractice in Ohio
Hospitals and doctors should understand which patients are most at risk for developing sepsis. Healthcare providers should have protocols in place for monitoring, diagnosing, and treating this dangerous condition. At Crandall & Pera Law, we file personal injury claims and wrongful death claims when incompetent medical care harms you or a loved one. We’ve helped many medical malpractice clients obtain many strong recoveries, including verdicts and settlements of one million dollars or more. Our Ohio failure to diagnose sepsis lawyers work with seasoned medical professionals who can show why improper medical care causes injuries and deaths. Call us today if you or someone you love develops sepsis.
In one case, we obtained a $1.3 million settlement against a family doctor for a patient who had signs of sepsis (a racing heart, fever, elevated temperature, and low oxygen level.) Unfortunately, the patient was diagnosed with a headache and sent home. She became unresponsive at home and died the next day. The money will be used for her husband and small children.
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Table of Contents
- What is sepsis?
- What are the signs and symptoms of sepsis in Ohio?
- How is sepsis diagnosed in Ohio?
- What treatments should hospitals and doctors use to treat sepsis in Ohio?
- Who is responsible for delays in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis?
- Do you have an Ohio lawyer near me who can handle my sepsis case?
What is sepsis?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, sepsis is due to your body’s intense reaction to infection. Sepsis can cause organ damage and tissue damage. It’s a life-threatening condition. Essentially, if you have an infection, your immune system will work to fight the infection. With sepsis, your immune system stops fighting the infection and “starts damaging your normal tissues and organs, leading to widespread inflammation throughout your body.” Sepsis can also cause blood clots in your blood vessels that can reduce the flow of blood to your organs.
The stages of the disorder include infection, bacteria in your bloodstream, sepsis, and septic shock. Physicians should know the people who are most at risk of sepsis. These people include:
- The elderly (65 and older), newborns, infants, and pregnant women
- People with obesity, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, and other medical disorders
- Anyone with a weakened immune system
- Anyone in a hospital
- Anyone who has severe injuries, including large burns
- Patients with IVs, catheters, or breathing tubes
What are the signs and symptoms of sepsis in Ohio?
At Crandall & Pera Law, we examine whether your doctors reviewed common sepsis systems that include:
- A sepsis rash is an infection, such as blood poisoning, caused by your condition
- Urinary difficulties
- A fast heart
- Low blood pressure
- Weakness/fatigue
- Fever or hypothermia
- Chills
- Shaking
- Warm or sweaty skin
- Confusion/agitation
- Rapid breathing (hyperventilation) or shortness of breath
- Extreme pain/discomfort
How is sepsis diagnosed in Ohio?
Our Ohio failure to diagnose and treat sepsis lawyers review whether your doctors reviewed the causes of your condition, such as bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections; respiratory infections; urinary tract infections; gastrointestinal infections or disorders; central nervous system infections; and certain skin infections/conditions.
It’s critical that infections be identified quickly so they can be treated before sepsis begins. While there is not one specific test, there are many standard diagnostic tests that should be used. These tests include:
- A physical and oral examination.
- A blood test. The test should examine your complete blood count CBC, include blood cultures, test for abnormal kidney and liver function, examine any clotting problems, and review any electrolyte abnormalities.
- A blood oxygen level test. This test examines the level of oxygen in your blood.
- Other tests. These include a urinalysis, urine culture test, X-rays, and CT scans.
Medical providers “may sometimes suspect sepsis at bedside using the set of sepsis criteria — a tool called quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA).”
If you have a confirmed/probable infection and at least two of the following criteria, you may have sepsis:
- Low blood pressure.
- A high respiratory rate (faster than 22 breaths per minute)
- An indicative Glasgow coma scale rating
What treatments should hospitals and doctors use to treat sepsis in Ohio?
The Cleveland Clinic states that “Sepsis treatment needs to begin immediately. The most important concern in sepsis protocol is a quick diagnosis and prompt treatment.”
Once a diagnosis is made, your doctors will normally admit you to the intensive care unit (ICU) of your hospital. The treatments for sepsis include:
- Antibiotics. These medications are administered if you have a bacterial infection.
- IV (intravenous) fluids. These fluids maintain the flow of blood to your organs and “prevent your blood pressure from dropping too low.”
- Vasopressor medications. These drugs tighten blood vessels when necessary to reach an adequate blood pressure level.
- Appropriate supportive care. Some patients may require dialysis for kidney failure or mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure.
- Surgery. Patients may require surgery to remove damaged tissue.
Patients with mild sepsis often survive – with “quick diagnosis and treatment.” Patients who have more serious cases of sepsis and don’t receive treatment will die. “Even with treatment, 30% to 40% of people with septic shock, the most severe stage of sepsis, will die.”
Septic shock can be fatal within as little as 12 hours – which is why prompt diagnosis of sepsis is essential. The long-term complications of sepsis include nightmares, insomnia, panic attacks, organ failure, loss of cognitive function, joint and muscle pain, and an increased risk of developing sepsis again.
Who is responsible for delays in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis?
Healthcare providers should understand the risk factors for developing sepsis, know the signs and symptoms of sepsis, and immediately conduct proper diagnostic tests. When sepsis is confirmed, treatment should begin immediately. Hospitals should have proper policies and procedures in place that the doctors can follow.
At Crandall & Pera Law, we file medical malpractice claims against all responsible healthcare providers, including:
- Hospitals
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Lab technicians
- Other responsible healthcare providers
We demand compensation for a survivor’s medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost income.
If your loved one died, our attorneys can file wrongful death damages for your family’s economic and personal damages.
Do you have an Ohio lawyer near me who can handle my sepsis case?
Crandall & Pera Law represents patients and families when delays in the diagnosis or treatment cause injuries and deaths. We advocate for clients from our office at 850 Euclid Ave #1122, Cleveland, OH 44114. Our team also has locations in Cincinnati, Columbus, Chesterland and Chagrin Falls. When clients can’t come to our office due to sepsis, we will make arrangements to meet with you at your home or a healthcare facility. We also discuss claims by phone and through online conferences.
We understand how traumatic sepsis and its complications are. We’re prepared to work to obtain all the compensation you deserve.
Speak with a lawyer today
Sepsis is a well-known medical problem. At Crandall & Pera Law, we hold medical providers accountable when healthcare providers fail to prevent sepsis from being properly treated due to delays in diagnosis. We’ve helped many clients obtain strong recoveries when medical malpractice occurs. Call our Ohio failure to diagnose and treat sepsis lawyers or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.