San Francisco, CA medical malpractice attorney Nathaniel Leeds discusses how he determines whether sepsis or infection occurred due to malpractice. He states that infections or sepsis are not always the direct result of malpractice, as infections can naturally occur due to the presence of pathogens. The critical issue lies in whether healthcare providers recognize the signs early and respond promptly before the infection overwhelms the patient’s body.

In cases involving sepsis, even treatable infections can become fatal in fewer than 12 hours. When a patient reports feeling unwell, it is the physician’s responsibility to determine whether the condition is a serious, life-threatening illness or a less severe concern. Established medical guidelines exist to help physicians make these distinctions. However, when doctors fail to follow those guidelines or disregard patients’ concerns, the consequences can be devastating.

He notes that the firm has handled numerous cases where clients either lost their lives or suffered catastrophic injuries, such as limb loss, because sepsis was not identified and treated in time.