San Francisco, CA medical malpractice attorney Nathaniel Leeds discusses how he determines whether sepsis or infection occurred due to malpractice. It’s not common for infection or sepsis to be the outcome of medical malpractice. Infections are a natural occurrence, with pathogens present in various environments, and they can lead to infections in individuals. The critical factor is whether healthcare providers recognize these situations and respond promptly before the infection becomes overwhelming for the patient’s body.

In cases of sepsis, treatable infections can rapidly escalate to life-threatening conditions within a matter of hours. Patients often communicate general discomfort to their doctors, stating that they “aren’t feeling well.” It is the responsibility of healthcare professionals to discern when these vague symptoms might indicate a potentially life-threatening condition.

Clear and well-defined guidelines exist to assist doctors in making these determinations. However, when doctors fail to adhere to these guidelines or dismiss patients’ concerns, the consequences can be tragic. In some instances, clients have tragically lost their lives due to sepsis not being recognized and treated promptly, while others have suffered the loss of limbs because of delayed appreciation of sepsis.