Septic Shock
Back to All Medical ErrorsSeptic shock is a potentially fatal condition that occurs when an infection causes a patient's blood pressure to drop dangerously low. Hospital and ICU patients are more likely to develop septic shock.
While most infections can be quickly treated with antibiotics, some cannot. In severe cases, an infection can cause a patient to develop sepsis: a health condition that typically involves a drop in blood pressure and a high respiratory rate. If untreated, a patient can suffer from septic shock—a dangerous and potentially fatal condition.
Sepsis and septic shock are most likely to occur in a hospital setting. If a medical professional fails to properly treat an infection or diagnose sepsis in a timely manner and the patient develops septic shock as a result, they may be held liable for medical negligence or malpractice.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with septic shock and you believe a medical professional was to blame, contact MedFault for a free consultation to see if you may qualify for compensation.
Septic Shock Symptoms
Sepsis and septic shock are both consequences of untreated infections. Patients with sepsis will likely develop the following symptoms: high respiratory rate; low blood pressure; and a change in mental state, such as confusion, disorientation, or anxiety.
If sepsis is left untreated, it may result in septic shock.
Septic Shock Symptoms
- Dangerously low blood pressure
- Rapid heart rate
- Difficulty breathing
- Fever
- High levels of lactic acid in the blood
How Medical Malpractice Can Result in Septic Shock
Sepsis and septic shock are consequences of infections. In hospitals where patients are more likely to be immunocompromised and have weaker immune systems, infections can be incredibly dangerous and hard to fight off. That is why preventing infections is so important.
Infections can occur if a medical professional failed to properly wash their hands, used unsterilized medical devices, or failed to properly take care of a wound. These can all be examples of medical negligence or malpractice.
Infections are not always the fault of a medical professional. However, if a medical professional fails to diagnosis sepsis or septic shock in a reasonable time, they may be considered negligent. Since these conditions are often fatal—nearly half of patients with septic shock die from the condition—time is of the essence and the sooner a patient can be treated, the more likely they are to survive.
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Do You Qualify for Septic Shock Compensation?
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with septic shock, you may qualify for compensation. Medical professionals are required to do everything they can to prevent infections and treat them quickly if they do develop. Many times sepsis or septic shock occurs when a patient was not reasonably taken care of.
If a medical professional’s lack of care or mistake caused you to develop septic shock, you may qualify to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.
A lawsuit can result in compensation for the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Loss of earnings if you missed work due to your condition
If you lost a loved one to septic shock, you may still be able to seek justice on their behalf. A wrongful death lawsuit can provide you with financial resources to cover funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and more.
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We rely on healthcare providers, hospitals, doctors, and other medical professionals to help improve our health. Sometimes, they can make critical errors that result in serious consequences.
