What to do about a Septicaemia Misdiagnosis

Is it possible to claim septicaemia misdiagnosis compensation for the death of my 5 year old son? We think that our doctor should have recognised the symptoms of septicaemia and could have been able to save his life.

A claim for septicaemia misdiagnosis compensation is possible when there has been a failed diagnosis of the condition and when treatment was not been provided in an acceptable time frame. However due to the nature of the symptoms of septicaemia, it can easily be confused with other disorders. Even so, a doctor should have been aware of the symptoms of septicaemia and referred your son to a hospital for diagnostic tests.

Septicaemia and meningitis are the leading causes of death in children between 1 and 5 years of age and both illnesses have similar symptoms.  It should have been evident that your son was suffering from a serious bacterial infection, and that this should have warranted swift and decisive action by your GP – especially since a competent GP would have been well aware of the seriousness of both meningitis and septicaemia and the importance of rapid treatment.

If tests were not arranged in an acceptable time frame, it could be medical negligence and a claim for septicaemia misdiagnosis compensation will be possible for bereavement. In order to demonstrate to the courts that an award of septicaemia misdiagnosis compensation should be made, you will need to prove ‘on the balance of probabilities’ that your doctor has been negligent in a duty of care to your son, and that this negligence resulted in your son not receiving treatment in time to save his life. In a claim for septicaemia misdiagnosis compensation, this proof will need to come from medical opinion, which means that your son’s medical records will need to be assessed by medical experts.

A medical negligence compensation solicitor will be able to conduct a preliminary assessment of your claim, and will tell you if you are eligible to claim compensation for septicaemia misdiagnosis. A medical negligence solicitor will also make the necessary arrangements to have medical experts assess the case and provide testimony that the doctor concerned was negligent by not taking prompt action if this is deemed to be the case. If it can be determined that there was medical negligence and that your son’s life could have been saved, and a competent doctor would have been able to take action in time, you will be eligible to claim septicaemia misdiagnosis compensation for bereavement and there should be a good chance of your claim being successful.