If medical practitioners fail to recognise the obvious clinical signs of necrotising fasciitis, resulting in a delayed diagnosis, there may be grounds for a medical negligence compensation claim.
Clinical signs of necrotising fasciitis
There are certain symptoms that should alert medical practitioners that there is a possible necrotising fasciitis infection in the subcutaneous tissue. For example, the patient will be complaining of erythema (redness of the skin) and a severe pain at the site of infection. This may be akin to a burning sensation. The patient will also be feeling unwell with symptoms similar to the flu – such as a fever, a high temperature and low blood pressure.
These symptoms are all obvious clinical signs of an infection. Medical practitioners should recognise the signs and take steps to discover the underlying cause. This can be achieved by taking a swab of the wound (if the infection arises after an operation) or by surgical exploration. Investigations such as these will enable samples to be sent to a microbiologist, who can then confirm the type of bacteria present. If an organism that causes necrotising fasciitis is found, a firm diagnosis can be made.
Failure to recognise necrotising fasciitis
Unfortunately there are occasions when doctors overlook the obvious clinical features of necrotising fasciitis, instead wrongly diagnosing another condition. Often necrotising fasciitis is mistaken for cellulitis or the flu.
If there is a failure of the medical team to realise the potentially serious and catastrophic nature of a patient’s symptoms, the care will have fallen to an unacceptable standard. It is very likely that this will cause a patient harm, as necrotising fasciitis is a condition that must be treated without delay if devastating complications are to be prevented.
Therefore a delay in diagnosing necrotising fasciitis will lead to a delay in treatment. This will make a patient very unwell, and it may even be fatal.
Claiming compensation
If you, or your family member, has suffered because of poor medical care, please get in touch with us today. We are clinical injury lawyers who specialise in necrotising fasciitis claims, making us well-placed to help.
During a free initial consultation, we will listen to the details of the case before suggesting what options are available to you. If we suspect that there is a case to be answered, we will pursue a medical negligence claim on your behalf, fighting to get the compensation you deserve.
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