Delay In Sepsis Diagnosis

[xever]

I went to the ER throwing up thinking i had food poisoning.

I was oriented enough to give my medical history including recovery from an AV bleed in 1974. I gave the triage nurse my Emergency Contact info plus my cardiologists # and then I passed out. I was catherized and given an IV.

My CT scan indicated hydronephrosis and 4 mm calculi.

Immediately after diagnosis, I was discharged with only pain meds. They did not contact my daughter POA nor my doctor. My BP was recorded only one time as 117/54; respiration 24 and i could not urinate. My bloodwork had some H values and some L values.

I was told to stay hydrated. I couldn't keep anything down including my Rx for seizures.

My friend contacted my daughter who then drove 5 hours to come to my assistance. At home, I threw up blood and started seizing. She called 911.

911 took 45 minutes to find my apt. I live 2 min. from the hospital.

I was admitted less than 24 hour after my first trip to Emergency. I had an immediate cardiac cath and was diagnosed with multi-organ failure. My daughter was told to prepare for my death.

I obviously survived 3.5 weeks in the hospital + 2 weeks in rehab as i couldn't walk or use my hand. I had one finger partially amputated and several debrided. My ability and sensation in that dominat hand is diminished. And I survived at age 59.

The first attorney sent my case to a medical expert to review. They gave no written report and verbally indicated it was not worth pursuing a malpractice case for failure to diagnose septic shock.

The attorney I am seeing now said that my award might be minimal in Florida and hard to prove that the ER failure to diagnose caused me greater harm. She is still studying the case.

What is your opinion?

What is missing from the first visit to the ER?

RK

I understand that sepsis and septic shock is very high and most people have never even heard of it's dangerous mortality even after the death of the Brazialian model.

[Kobbi]

The ER should have admitted you. The hydronephrosis probably resulted from the kidney stone. You were a surgical emergency and admission was the proper thing to do.

Florida has had a lot of malpractice lawsuits in the past ten years. If you think your lawyer is a little scared, then look for another. You need a lawyer with ex[perience and guts.