A Leicester based doctor convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence has won her appeal to recommence practising medicine.
In 2015, Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba, a junior doctor specialising in paediatrics, was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence following the death of six year old, Jack Adcock, who was in her care at the time of his death. Jack died in 2011 at the Leicester Royal Infirmary from a cardiac arrest which had been brought on by sepsis.
In June 2017, Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba was suspended from the medical register for a period of 12 months. However, a subsequent appeal against this decision from the General Medical Council (GMC), who claimed that the suspension was “not sufficient to protect the public”, resulted in Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba being permanently struck off the medical register at the beginning of this year.
Sepsis Negligence Claims
This tragic case highlights the recent rise in deaths caused by sepsis, which we previously reported on earlier this month.
According to statistics, there are around 123,000 cases of sepsis a year in England, and roughly 37,000 people die as a result of the infection.
Diagnosing sepsis as early as possible is essential to stopping long-term medical damage, or at worst death. Signs and symptoms include:
- A high temperature (fever) or low body temperature
- Chills and shivering
- A fast heartbeat and fast breathing
In more severe cases of sepsis or septic shock, the blood pressure will drop dangerously low and this can cause dizziness, confusion, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, slurred speech, muscle pain, breathlessness, decreased urination, pale skin and loss of consciousness.
By being aware of the signs and symptoms of sepsis, and acting on them quickly, patients can receive the appropriate antibiotics as early as possible, which could mean that thousands of lives are saved.
If you or a loved one feel that there has been a delay in diagnosing sepsis, which has caused you to suffer the devastating effects of the infection, then you may be able to make a medical negligence claim.
How Can Nelsons Help?
If you or a family member have been misdiagnosed with sepsis, then please contact us on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.
Our team prides itself on our friendly and professional service and we are always happy to discuss queries over the phone, via email or where appropriate at a meeting.