If you or a loved one has developed sepsis while undergoing medical treatment, or suffered harm as a result of undiagnosed or improperly treated sepsis, it is imperative for you to contact a seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, we work diligently to build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
The Study
According to a new study released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), three-quarters of US hospitals fail to provide appropriate care for sepsis. The study assigns traditional grades to the percentage of patients who receive proper care. Just 1 percent received an A, while a disturbing 74.8 percent of hospitals received a failing grade. CMS utilizes traditional school grades as opposed to a star rating system because the rationale is that it is a more accurate system. Consider the following: if a hospital only provides appropriate treatment 60 percent of the time, that is a failing grade, as opposed to three stars. The study examined data that CMS has recently released comparing hospital performance across the nation.
Sepsis Related Medical Malpractice
Sepsis, also known as “blood poisoning,” is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body’s extreme reaction to an infection, which can lead to organ failure and tissue damage. If sepsis is not properly diagnosed and treated, it can lead to septic shock and even death. Sadly, sepsis is more common than you may think. In fact, it is the most common cause of hospital deaths in the US, ahead of both heart attack and stroke.
Failure to diagnose and failure to treat sepsis is a form of medical negligence. Medical negligence occurs when a healthcare provider, such as a doctor, fails to use the level of care that a reasonably prudent healthcare provider in the same situation would have used thereby injuring the patient. In order to win a medical malpractice case, you need to establish the following elements:
- Duty of care – the doctor owed the patient a duty of care;
- Breach – the doctor breached the duty of care by failing to provide the patient with a reasonable standard of care;
- Causation – the doctor’s breach was a direct and proximate cause of the patient’s injuries;
- Foreseeability – the type of injuries the patient suffered were reasonably foreseeable;
- Damages – the patient suffered actual, demonstrable damages as a result.
Seasoned Baltimore Medical Malpractice Attorneys
If you have suffered from sepsis during a hospital stay, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At Arfaa Law Group, our trusted Baltimore medical misdiagnosis attorneys will investigate your case with a fine-tooth comb and come up with a legal strategy accordingly. We know a medical mistake can turn your life upside down, which is why we are committed to helping our clients recover the money and support they need during this difficult time. We are here to answer your questions every step of the way. For more information, please call us today at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.
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