Necrotising fasciitis (sometimes misspelt necrotizing fascitis) is a rare condition with a disproportionately high percentage of medical negligence claims.
Medical management of necrotising fasciitis
Necrotising fasciitis is a bacterial infection that attacks the soft tissue and underlying fascia. It is an aggressive infection and spreads extremely quickly, creating an ever-expanding area of necrotic (dead) tissue. The only way to prevent the spread of infection is to administer intravenous antibiotics and to surgical remove the necrotic tissue – a procedure known as surgical debridement. This must be done within days of the onset of symptoms, or the consequences could be fatal.
Although necrotising fasciitis is rare, medical practitioners should be able to use their knowledge and expertise to work towards an accurate diagnosis. This is true even if they have not witnessed a first-hand case of necrotising fasciitis during the course of their careers. This is because a patient will be displaying the typical symptoms of a severe infection, including a fever and skin that is red and hot to touch. An infection can be confirmed with a blood test, which will show a raised white blood cell count.
Knowing that a patient has some sort of serious infection, tests should be taken and sent to the lab for testing. This will verify the presence of necrotising fasciitis and treatment can begin immediately.
Medical negligence and necrotising fasciitis
Therefore even if medical professionals have not seen necrotising fasciitis before, it should be possible for them to obtain a timely diagnosis. A failure to do so will amount to a substandard level of medical care. If this directly causes a patient further injury – which it undoubtedly will – there will be grounds for a medical negligence compensation claim. This will enable the patient or their family to obtain financial redress for:-
- General damages: which reflects the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by the substandard level of medical care
- Special damages: which reflects the actual financial loss incurred as a result of the substandard level of medical care
Necrotizing fasciitis negligence claims
If you think you could be entitled to pursue a necrotising fasciitis negligence claim, please get in touch with us today. We will put you through to a legal expert who will ask you questions about the care you (or your loved one) received. After obtaining all the information, we will be able to suggest what options are open to you. If you are in a position to make a claim, we will handle the case on your behalf, working to get the compensation you deserve.
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