Sepsis claims
Misdiagnosis of sepsis can be devastating for you or a loved one.
Sepsis is a rare complication of an infection that can lead to multiple organ failure and death if it is not diagnosed and treated quickly. Both instances of severe sepsis and septic shock – when you experience a dangerously low blood pressure drop due to sepsis – are medical emergencies.
According to the UK Sepsis Trust, 44,000 people die in the UK every year because of sepsis, which equates to one death every 12 minutes . The biggest direct cause of sepsis related death in UK pregnancies.
If you or a loved one have received a delayed or misdiagnosis of sepsis then you may have a claim for compensation. At Leigh Day, our medical negligence team can help with your case. Call us today on 020 7650 1200.
Get help today
Call us on 020 7650 1200 or fill in our short form and we'll call you back
Sepsis information
Sepsis – also known as blood poisoning or septicemia – is the body’s response to an infection that can be fatal. It is more likely to occur in people with a weakened immune system, those already in hospital with a serious illness, who are very young or elderly, have just had surgery, or who injured themselves in an accident.
•Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
•Blue, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
•Rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
•Difficulty breathing or breathlessness
•Blue, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
•Rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
•Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
•A weak, high-pitched cry unlike their normal cry
•Not responding like they normally do – such as being uninterested in feeding or normal activities, and sleepier than normal
Making a sepsis claim
Sepsis misdiagnosis and a delay to treatment by medical staff can lead to a claim for medical negligence. People who recover from sepsis can be left with long-term health problems, including post-sepsis syndrome. It can result in life-changing injuries, including amputation.
A successful sepsis medical negligence claim can secure compensation you can use to pay for rehabilitation and care needs. If one of your relatives has died because of misdiagnosed or mistreated sepsis their dependants may also be able to bring a claim for compensation.
Start your sepsis claim with Leigh Day
If you think you might have a sepsis negligence claim, start by getting in touch with our team for a free consultation. One of our expert solicitors will listen to your case, assess whether you have a claim and advise you on the best next steps to take. Call us today on 020 7650 1200.
You can also make a claim for a loved one, such as a child under the age of 18 or someone who has sadly passed away due to sepsis-related negligence. Our lawyers can guide and support you through the process. They can also visit you at home or in hospital if you’re wanting to find out whether you’re eligible for compensation.
To support your claim our team may require you to gather any relevant evidence. This can include medical and financial records and documents, along with witness statements. This is to verify any treatment you received, assess whether the appropriate actions were taken and the impact it had on your physical, emotional wellbeing and financial situation.
Sepsis compensation
Compensation can be used to improve your quality of life to as close as it was before. The amount awarded is designed to cover the costs of:
- Care
- Treatment
- Loss of earnings
- Accommodation changes
- Specialist equipment
- Emotional and physical pain and suffering
Sepsis settlements we have secured
£1 million for widower
£1 million for a father left to raise his two daughters when his wife developed sepsis and died soon after giving birth. Read more.
Perforated bowel
A six-figure sum against King's College Hospitals NHS Trust after a man’s perforated bowel was misdiagnosed and he developed sepsis.
£1.2 million after amputation
£1.2 million settlement for a young woman who had an above the knee amputation after sepsis was misdiagnosed.
Get help today
Call us on 020 7650 1200 or fill in our short form and we'll call you back
Why choose Leigh Day?
Our medical negligence team at Leigh Day has more than 30 years’ experience, fighting many sepsis claims and successfully securing compensation for our clients. We have a team of expert sepsis lawyers across the UK who specialize in helping clients receive the compensation they are owed.
The Times ranked Leigh Day as one of the three top law firms for medical negligence in the UK in its 2020 Top Law Firms supplement. We are also ranked highly in both the independent directory The Legal 500 and Chambers.
Olive Lewin is a clinical negligence specialist who has significant and extensive experience assisting those with complex and high-value clinical negligence claims – including for sepsis misdiagnosis. She works across key cases including securing a settlement for £1 million where a young mother died as a result of missed sepsis within 24 hours of delivering her baby.
Sepsis compensation case studies
Grandmother died after Royal Marsden Hospital delay in treating sepsis
A retired civil servant died after a delay in being properly treated for the early signs of sepsis at the Royal Marsden Hospital.
Family receive apology and compensation
Northwick Park Hospital in north-west London has apologised for shortcomings in treatment and provided compensation to a bereaved family following the death of their son from sepsis.
Mother of two died from sepsis after waiting for three hours in an ambulance outside hospital
The inquest into the death of 49-year-old Samantha Brousas has concluded that there was a 'gross failure' in the care of the mother of two who died from sepsis in February 2018.