If you have incurred financial loss because of substandard medical care, you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation. This would enable you to recover the money you have lost.
Necrotising fasciitis complications
Necrotising fasciitis is a serious bacterial infection that causes the tissue to break down and die. It must be treated quickly, or the area of dead tissue will quickly grow, resulting in life-threatening complications.
If there is a delay in treatment, the area of necrosis will be extensive and will need to be surgically removed. This can have troubling complications, including:-
- A large open defect that takes a long time to close
- Organ damage, if the necrosis has spread to the internal organs
- Loss of function, depending upon the site of infection – e.g. sexual dysfunction if necrosis develops in the genitalia
- Loss of a limb, if necrosis develops in a leg/foot/arm
- Septic shock and organ failure
Necrotising fasciitis and financial loss
The aforementioned complications will leave a patient critically unwell and their recovery may take months or even years.
Such a prolonged recovery can have an adverse impact upon the patient’s financial well-being, as it is unlikely he/she will be able to work during this time. This can be very difficult as the individual in question may not be entitled to statutory sick pay, or the sick pay may be much lower than their normal wage.
Furthermore, it can happen that someone is off sick for so long that their employer lets them go. Consequently the patient may face a handicap on the labour market, as he/she cannot obtain employment due to health problems. Alternatively the patient may have ongoing problems that mean he/she simply cannot return to work, and must instead rely on disability benefits.
Necrotising fasciitis can be fatal. In such cases, the deceased may have had dependants who were reliant upon their income. Their death will therefore leave these dependants in financial difficulties.
Claiming compensation for financial loss
The compensation awarded for a medical negligence claim reflects the actual financial loss that has been incurred by the patient and/or their loved ones. This covers past and future losses, such as:-
- Past loss of earnings
- Future loss of earnings
- Loss of pension
- Cost of past/future treatment
- Funeral expenses
- Cost of care
The compensation awarded should put you back in the financial position you would be in, had the negligence not occurred. Although this will not undo the injuries that have been sustained, it will at least ensure that you and your loved ones do not face monetary difficulties in the long-term.
To find out more about claiming compensation, please get in touch with us today.
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