If you or your loved one has developed necrotising fasciitis after surgery, you might be wondering if medical negligence is to blame.
Preventing necrotising fasciitis after surgery
Post-operative infections are a common risk as bacteria can easily enter the body through the surgical wound. When a post-operative infection does happen, it will not necessarily amount to negligence.
However, there are times when medical professionals should take steps to prevent infections such as necrotising fasciitis developing after surgery. This will apply if the patient is thought to be especially at-risk of infection because he/she is:-
- Having abdominal surgery;
- Overweight;
- Already showing signs of infection (e.g. has a high temperature);
- Diabetic.
If a patient is deemed at-risk of post-operative infection, antibiotics should be administered before the procedure as a precautionary measure. This is known as administering prophylactic antibiotics, with prophylactic meaning preventative.
If an at-risk patient is not given prophylactic antibiotics and necrotising fasciitis does develop, there may be grounds for a medical negligence claim. This is because medical professionals should have noted the risk of post-operative infection and taken reasonable steps to prevent it. A failure to do so will amount to medical negligence.
Delayed diagnosis of necrotising fasciitis after surgery
A necrotising fasciitis claim may also be made if a patient develops necrotising fasciitis after surgery, but medical professionals fail to diagnose the infection in a timely fashion.
Sadly there are times when a hospital patient has the symptoms indicative of a severe infection, but medical professionals do not identify the problem until a large area of tissue has become necrotic. If it is found that a delay could have been avoided, saving a patient from further pain and suffering, there will be grounds for a medical negligence claim.
Necrotising fasciitis compensation
If you have developed necrotising fasciitis after surgery and you believe medical error is to blame, you need to speak to a specialist solicitor about the care you received.
If a legal expert advises that you have been subject to a substandard level of medical care, you will be entitled to pursue a necrotising fasciitis claim. This will enable you to claim compensation for the physical, emotional and financial damage you have incurred.
To find out if you are able to claim compensation for necrotising fasciitis, do not hesitate to get in touch with us today. We specialise in necrotising fasciitis claims and will be more than happy to help.
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