What to Know About Wrongful Death Claims for Sepsis Shock in Florida

Anytime someone passes away in a non-emergency hospital setting while under close observation of health care providers, there will be questions about how such a tragedy could happen. You might be surprised to learn that the source of these fatalities is often infection, specifically sepsis and septic shock. If you lost a loved one under such circumstances, it is horrifying to know that he or she was potentially subjected to unsanitary conditions in a hospital; the situation is even more disturbing when you know that death could have been prevented if the facility had established and implemented appropriate sanitation and hygiene policies.

No legal action can bring your loved one back, but you do have options for recovering compensation after hospital negligence leads to sepsis. Plus, taking legal action through a wrongful death case is a way to seek justice and protect future patients. A Miami sepsis and septic shock lawyer can assist with the process, but some answer to FAQs about wrongful death cases is helpful.

How does someone die from sepsis? When an infectious agent enters the human body, your natural defense system responds by attacking the invasive cells. Unfortunately, this reaction can sometimes be too strong, and the infection-fighting process turns on the body in the form of sepsis. If not addressed with appropriate medical care, organs start to function abnormally and eventually shut down. In time, sepsis causes a considerable drop in blood pressure and becomes septic shock, which is often fatal.

What do I have to prove in a wrongful death claim? To prevail in a Florida wrongful death claim, you must show that the fatality was a direct result of negligence. A hospital may be negligent by deviating from the applicable standard of care, which refers to what a reasonable facility would have done under the same circumstances. For example, sepsis or septic shock may be caused by:

• Carelessness with sanitization practices
• Failure to recognize the infection
• Not delivering prompt medical attention upon diagnosing sepsis

Who qualifies to sue for wrongful death? By law, only the deceased victim’s personal representative has standing to bring a wrongful death claim. This individual may be someone named in the decedent’s will or appointed by the court in a probate case. However, the personal representative acts on behalf of the victim’s surviving family members to obtain compensation for their losses.

What can I recover in a wrongful death claim? In a successful claim, you may be able to obtain amounts for:

• The deceased’s final medical bills
• Funeral and burial costs
• The decedent’s lost wages and future earning capacity
• Lost guidance, love, education, support, and other contributions the victim is no longer around to provide.

Reach Out to a Florida Sepsis Injury Attorney About Your Legal Options

If nursing home or hospital negligence caused your loved one’s death from a septic condition, please contact Freidin Brown, P.A. to speak with our lawyers about remedies through a wrongful death action. We can schedule a no-cost case evaluation at our offices in Miami or Fort Myers to discuss strategies for enforcing your rights.

Resource:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0768/Sections/0768.19.html