Failure to Diagnose Sepsis: What are the Legal Options

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the body’s response to an infection becomes uncontrolled, potentially causing organ failure or death if not treated promptly. When a healthcare provider fails to diagnose sepsis or delays treatment, the results can be catastrophic. Sepsis is more common – and deadly – than many may realize: each year approximately 1.7 million Americans develop this condition, and 1 in 3 patients who die in U.S. hospitals had sepsis during their hospitalization. Early detection is a matter of life and death; even a few hours’ delay in treatment can prove fatal.

Why are sepsis cases often missed or misdiagnosed? A major reason is that early sepsis symptoms can mimic less serious illnesses like the flu, dehydration, or even anxiety. A patient might present with fever, chills, or fatigue – signs that doctors could dismiss as a common viral infection – while a deadly infection silently rages. Busy emergency rooms sometimes underestimate these red flags, failing to order critical lab tests or monitor vital signs that would reveal sepsis. The danger is that every moment counts: studies show each hour of delayed sepsis treatment increases the risk of death by roughly 4–9%. Such delays can result in a patient’s condition deteriorating from treatable to tragic in a very short time.

Patients and families harmed by a missed sepsis diagnosis are not without recourse. In Illinois, if a doctor’s negligence in recognizing or treating sepsis causes injury or worse, it may constitute medical malpractice. Hospitals and physicians have a duty to meet an accepted “standard of care,” and failing to diagnose sepsis symptoms may breach that standard. Both the injured patient and, in fatal cases, the surviving family have the right to pursue a claim for damages against those who were responsible for the error. Illinois law allows victims of medical misdiagnosis to seek compensation for their losses, including medical bills and lost income to pain, suffering, and wrongful death damages. These claims are complex and time-sensitive, making prompt legal action important.

With over 35 years of experience, The Law Office of Jeffrey Friedman, P.C. has the knowledge and dedication to help victims of sepsis misdiagnosis navigate their legal options. Jeffrey Friedman is a seasoned Illinois medical malpractice attorney who has spent decades fighting for Chicago patients and families affected by medical negligence. Our law firm understands the trauma that undiagnosed sepsis can inflict, and we work tirelessly to hold negligent hospitals and doctors accountable. Call or text 312-357-1431 or contact us online for a free consultation with an experienced Chicago sepsis misdiagnosis lawyer. We are ready to listen, answer your questions with compassion, and pursue justice on your behalf – with no fees unless we win your case.