According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sepsis functions as “the body’s extreme response to infection.” Sepsis may prove life-threatening and may occur to people with compromised immune systems. If a person does not die from sepsis complications, they may still suffer long-term tissue damage, organ failure, or death.
According to the CDC, early diagnosis and treatment can help, so keeping an eye out for vulnerable populations becomes necessary. Sepsis may occur after surgeries, cuts, and if any bodily infection worsens. If your loved one recently suffered from sepsis, severe consequences may have resulted from actions a caregiver took or failed to take. Call an Oak Park sepsis lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for help.
Risk Factors of Sepsis Infections
Adults 65 or older live at increased risk for sepsis, in addition to anyone with chronic conditions or organ diseases, according to the CDC. Common germs that can elevate into sepsis infections may include:
- Staph.
- E. Coli
- Certain types of Streptococcus.
In a nursing home setting, sepsis can happen when caregivers allow a lack of basic hygiene and vaccinations to continue or when they fail to manage chronic conditions or diseases. Determining the cause of sepsis can help others with vulnerabilities in nursing homes:
- Chronic Health Conditions: Nursing home residents require special, round-the-clock care that immediate family typically cannot provide. If your loved one has a chronic health condition like diabetes, lung disease, or kidney disease, their immune system already operates at a higher risk of infection than other nursing home patients.
- Dismal Hygienic Practices: Practicing basic hygiene provides one simple way to avoid sepsis infections. If your loved one has an open wound, bedsore, healing surgery wound, or a history of infections, nursing home staff must remain vigilant about proper hygiene in the nursing home.
- Infections That Go Untreated: A nursing home resident with Pneumonia, bladder infection, kidney infection, or infection of the digestive system lives at high risk for sepsis. According to Mayo Clinic, exposure to bacteria, viruses, and even a simple fungal infection can result in sepsis.
- Too Many Antibiotics: If your loved one is constantly fighting infections, treating it with antibiotics rather than finding the root of the problem could lead to recurring cases of sepsis.
Your loved one’s care depends on nursing home staff, so you want to understand potential signs of nursing home abuse and neglect. If your loved one frequently suffers from infections or sepsis, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may help build your case.
Legal Options Available for a Sepsis Case
When you need help building a legal case for your loved one’s care, you may consider making an insurance claim or filing a lawsuit. In the event of nursing home neglect or abuse that results in sepsis, you may want to file a personal injury, breach of contract, medical malpractice case, or wrongful death, to name a few examples.
Of course, every case proves unique and will require individual evaluation by our legal experts. We understand the importance of nursing home laws and regulations and may use that knowledge to defend your rights.
The statute of limitations for each of these cases will vary, and additional details may change the potential path of your case. Call us as soon as possible so you may access all of your legal rights to potential compensation.
Evidence Used to Support a Sepsis Claim
Any evidence you have to bolster your perspective will help us build a stronger case for you in or out of court. When we take on your case, we may consider all options for evidence collection, not limited to:
- Your loved one’s medical history: Our investigation may include a look into your family history of immunocompromised people, seeking attention for infection-related issues, and more.
- Documentation of your communication with medical professionals concerning your loved one’s care: We may consider long-term and short-term medical attention your loved one received, and any obvious over-prescription of antibiotics, negligence in addressing infections, or failure to provide adequate treatment for existing infections.
- Advice from medical experts: The treatment carried out by one medical expert may appear ill-advised in the eyes of another. Speaking with different experts may help us determine the appropriate course of action for your loved one’s care and compare it to the care they received.
- Nursing Home Background: We may investigate the nursing home’s history, including any reports of elder abuse, neglect, or mistreatment. If your loved one suffered neglect or abuse, others may have filed official complaints.
We may work to reach a settlement with your loved one’s nursing home, or if necessary, defend your rights in a courtroom setting.
For a free legal consultation with a Sepsis Lawyer serving Oak Park, call (800) 794-0444
Discuss Your Case with an Oak Park Sepsis Lawyer Today
Harm from sepsis classifies as preventable in some cases. With adequate medical care and attention, sepsis should not get out of hand, and your loved one has a right to this level of care as a nursing home resident.
The consequences of sepsis can worsen quickly, so begin working on your case as soon as you think you may have one. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for your free, no-obligation case evaluation.
We want to help victims of nursing home abuse and neglect, especially when a simple infection worsens into a case of avoidable sepsis. We work on a contingency-fee basis, so you never pay any fees for our services out of pocket or up front.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
