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Sepsis is a life-threatening, serious complication of infection, which, if untreated, can lead to permanent disability or death. Healthcare professionals are expected to be alert to the symptoms and signs of sepsis and respond quickly because delays in diagnosis and treatment can be deadly.  

Negligent misdiagnosis, delays, and failures in treatment of sepsis cause otherwise avoidable injury. Our job is to fully investigate the issues on your behalf with leading medical experts.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis can affect anyone and often does so without warning, overwhelming the body’s immune system within a matter of hours. Sepsis can be difficult to diagnose but is treatable if caught early.

Sepsis is a serious complication of infection which, without quick treatment, can lead to multiple organ failure and death. Sepsis most commonly develops from infections in the lungs (pneumonia), urinary tract, abdomen and pelvis, but it can arise from infection in any part of the body.

Leading sepsis charity, The UK Sepsis Trust, estimates that in the UK there are around 250,000 cases of sepsis a year. The condition is fatal for 52,000 people a year, that’s 20% of those affected. In the UK, there are more deaths from sepsis than from breast and bowel cancer combined and many of the survivors are left permanently disabled.

‘Severe sepsis’ (affecting the organs or reducing blood and oxygen supply to the tissues) and ‘septic shock’ (where blood pressure becomes dangerously low) are medical emergencies. These advanced forms of the condition require immediate admission to hospital and emergency treatment with intravenous antibiotics. However, in its early stages, before the infection has spread or caused damage to other areas of the body, sepsis may sometimes be treatable with oral antibiotics at home.

Early recognition and immediate antibiotic treatment are the key to successful recovery from sepsis. With correct medical care, lasting, full recovery, without long-term consequences, is possible. Sepsis strikes quickly, but the condition is treatable.

Starting your sepsis claim

To start your sepsis negligence claim please contact our specialist solicitors for a free, no obligation, confidential discussion.

Often the patient is unaware that there were mistakes made in treatment, and it is only through discussion with specialist solicitors and medical experts that negligent mistakes which have caused serious injury are identified.

We will obtain your medical records, any investigation documentation and treatment protocols. We will take a detailed witness statement from you and others as necessary, and instruct independent medical experts to consider the care you received and the consequences for you of the failings in your care.

We act both for those who have been injured by sepsis and for bereaved family members of those who have died as a result of negligent treatment of their infection and sepsis.

 

Why Choose Boyes Turner?

Boyes Turner’s medical negligence team have helped secure compensation for many clients with severe, permanent disability, including multiple amputations, which were caused by delays in diagnosis and incorrect treatment of sepsis.

We have decades of experience in serious injury claims and understand the devastation caused by untreated life-threatening infections. When acting for clients with severe injuries, we aim to secure liability admissions and judgments as quickly as possible. This approach means that we can obtain interim funding to get rehabilitation started, and independence and participation in work/family life restored.

Our clients’ high-value compensation awards and settlements give them early access to rehabilitation, bespoke prostheses, specialist equipment, therapies, care, and adaptations to housing. Compensation can also ease the financial hardship which follows the loss or reduction of the injured provider’s or the deceased’s loss of earnings.

Where the injured client is a child, Boyes Turner’s uniquely integrated, multidisciplinary legal team can help them secure educational placements or support for children with special educational needs (SEN) arising from disabling injuries.

 

Sepsis medical negligence claims frequently asked questions

What causes sepsis?

Sepsis is usually caused by bacterial infection, although it can sometimes develop from viral or fungal infections. Sepsis most commonly arises from infection in the lungs, urinary tract, abdomen or pelvis, but it can develop from infection in any area of the body.

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What are the signs of sepsis?

The NHS advises that you should call 999 or take your child to A&E immediately if they have any of the following symptoms:

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What is the treatment for sepsis?

Treatment for sepsis depends on where and how the infection began (if known) and the nature and extent of the damage that has already been done. Treatment usually involves hospital referral and/or admission, IV (intravenous into a vein) antibiotics at first, with oral antibiotics continuing after initial treatment.

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Who is at risk of sepsis?

Sepsis can affect anyone who has had any type of infection. People with undeveloped or weakened immune systems are also at increased risk.

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What are the long-term consequences of sepsis?

If sepsis is diagnosed and treated at an early stage, most people recover fully without lasting consequences. If left untreated, the patient may develop severe sepsis (which affects the organs or reduces the blood/oxygen supply to the tissues) and septic shock (where blood pressure drops to a dangerously low level). Both these conditions are life-threatening medical emergencies.

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What is sepsis medical negligence?

Sepsis medical negligence is the failure to recognise and act on the risk the patient is developing or has a serious infection and the failure to properly treat the infection.

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How much sepsis compensation can I claim?

The amount of compensation awarded in a sepsis compensation claim is based on individual circumstances. We have helped clients injured by sepsis negligence recover compensation for:

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Recent cases

  • £2.5 million settlement in a fatal claim for the family of a mother who died from pneumonia and sepsis as a result of negligent hospital treatment.
  • £1.3m settlement for a man who developed sepsis and needed a below-knee amputation after a GP practice nurse failed to refer his infected (diabetic) foot wound for multidisciplinary foot care treatment. Our client's urgent needs were met with a £175,000 interim payment whilst the case was adjourned for a trial of prosthesis. 
  • £750,000 compensation for a client who suffered amputation of her left hand, the fingers, and thumb on her right hand, the toes on her left foot, and her right leg below the knee, and psychological injury, after negligent treatment of post-operative sepsis and necrotising fasciitis. She suffered septic shock, multi-system organ failure, ischaemia, brachial thrombosis and peripheral vascular compromise, causing gangrene in her hands and feet. She contacted us after her previous solicitors told her that her claim could not be pursued. We pursued the strongly defended claim and secured an out-of-court settlement which enabled our client to pay for prostheses, therapies, necessary equipment, an adapted car and adaptations to her home.
  • £500,000 compensation for a woman who suffered septicaemia and bowel injuries leaving her with a permanent colostomy after mistakes during surgery to remove an ovarian cyst and subsequent treatment delays. The hospital maintained its strong denial of liability throughout the case but ultimately made an acceptable settlement offer shortly before trial.
  • £290,000 compensation for a man who suffered faecal peritonitis, septic shock and multi-system failure after negligent bowel surgery. He was left with permanent injuries including a colostomy, incisional hernias, extensive scarring from surgery and skin grafting.
  • £165,000 compensation for a client who was left with severe bowel dysfunction, leg weakness and a psychological injury after hospital delays in recognising and treating a surgical injury to his bowel led to extensive intra-abdominal sepsis, peritonitis, kidney stones and bladder problems, incisional hernias and a faecal fistula.
  • £95,000 compensation and a formal apology for the family of a woman who died in hospital after A&E delays in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis. Vital antibiotic treatment was delayed for four hours whilst hospital staff failed in 18 attempts to insert the cannula needed to administer the antibiotic medication, before calling a registrar to place a central line. The woman died from septic shock before treatment was administered.
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Meet your specialist team

Our specialist Sepsis medical negligence claims team are considered leaders in the field and have a significant amount of expertise.
Susan Brown photo

Susan Brown

Partner

Julie Marsh headshot

Julie Marsh

Partner

Richard Money-Kyrle headshot

Richard Money-Kyrle

Partner

Sita Soni headshot

Sita Soni

Senior Associate - solicitor

Vanessa Wand photo

Vanessa Wand

Senior associate - solicitor

Rachel Makore headshot

Rachel Makore

Associate - solicitor

Tara Pileggi-Byrne photo

Tara Pileggi-Byrne

Associate - Solicitor

Alpa Rana headshot

Alpa Rana

Associate - solicitor

Fran Rothwell

Fran Rothwell

Associate solicitor

Ben Ireland headshot

Ben Ireland

Solicitor

Alice Carley headshot

Alice Carley

Paralegal

Audrey Elmore headshot

Audrey Elmore

Medical records coordinator

Nicky Melville headshot

Nicky Melville

Professional support assistant

Susan Brown photo
Julie Marsh headshot
Richard Money-Kyrle headshot
Sita Soni headshot
Vanessa Wand photo
Rachel Makore headshot
Tara Pileggi-Byrne photo
Alpa Rana headshot
Fran Rothwell
Ben Ireland headshot
Alice Carley headshot
Audrey Elmore headshot
Nicky Melville headshot

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Sepsis negligence cases

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Our medical negligence and personal injury teams have been nationally recognised for over 20 years because of their expertise, empathy and commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients.

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What our clients say

"Amazing support"

Fran has been an amazing support through a very difficult time for me and my family. Always available to speak and kept me in the loop with anything happening, she has been so kind, and I thank her so much for helping and getting my mum the justice she deserved.

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What has to be some of the most testing horrible times was dealt with in a dignified, honest, approachable and truly empathetic manner. I could not begin to do Susan justice for her handling of our case.

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I approached Boyes Turner after my claim was turned down by one of the Medical Negligence Claim company. My wife was a victim of medical negligence.

Boyes Turner have acted so efficiently on our behalf and was able to win our case. Anytime we contact them, their customer service was very good as they kept us fully informed of every level our case has developed. They are very friendly and approachable and great in their professional advise. I would strongly recommend anyone approach them for their legal and medical negligence services.

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I came to Boyes Turner desperate after searching the web for a firm to use for my sons case. He was only a few months so my mind was all over the place, but from the very first point of contact I felt a sense of relieve and belonging. I was welcomed and looked after by amazing staff who always communicated everything so well and went the extra mile to explain things and ensure I understood what was happening every step of the way (THANK YOU SUSAN BROWN). Susan was amazing I felt like I not only had a solicitor but someone who understood my emotions as a mother and always handled me with so much compassion and that was all I needed to keep me going for the 6 years of the case. Years went by in a breeze because of how professional Boyes Turner was. I am so greatful I went through it all with them and mananged to get my son a good compensation. We look forward our new life where my sons needs are priority after struggling for so long. Thank you Boyes Turner and thank you Susan Brown. My family and I are ever indebted.

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