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Sepsis

Often Treatable;  Always Deadly

An Attorney And Survivor With Rare Insight

When a patient dies or loses limbs from sepsis, it usually means that an infection spread out of control.  If sepsis is identified early, it can often be halted or reversed.   Attorney L. Bradley Schwartz entered the emergency room with classic signs and symptoms of early sepsis that went unnoticed and untreated for hours.  Mr. Schwartz went into septic shock and was placed in an induced coma for a month until his hands and feet were amputated due to gangrene and necrosis. As a result, L. Bradley Schwartz has rare insight into the horrific details of sepsis.  From vasopressors and wound vac treatments to dressing changes and debridement, these highly personal experiences have provided Attorney Schwartz with the unique ability to guide clients through the legal, practical and personal aspects of sepsis litigation and recovery.

Death And Disfigurement By Sepsis

The Reality Of Diagnostic Delay

Attorney L. Bradley Schwartz understands better than any practicing attorney what it means to survive the preventable and catastrophic results of untreated sepsis. Attorney Schwartz almost died when he developed sepsis in a hospital emergency room. Although lab tests and vital signs demonstrated the need for immediate antibiotics, the doctors did nothing until it was almost too late. Although death certificates often list sepsis as a cause of death, some doctors and hospitals use sepsis to justify an otherwise preventable death. If sepsis develops during an emergency room visit or a routine hospital stay, in a nursing home, after surgery or following a hospital discharge – patients and families need to know whether a mistake or systemic error allowed for the progression of sepsis. 

The Real Cause Of Sepsis

Was It The Infection Or Was It Neglect?

Sepsis (a/k/a septic shock, septicemia, bacteremia) is a life threatening condition that sets off a chain reaction that can cause organ failure, brain damage, blindness, amputations and death.  Sepsis can be caused by infections like pneumonia, staphylococcus, strep or meningococcal meningitis. Surgical wounds and untreated bed sores can turn septic when bacteria enters the bloodstream. When sepsis is identified too late, strong drugs called vasopressors are required.  Vasopressors are used as a last resort in order to save lives but they can actually cause amputations because they inflict severe damage to blood vessels. L. Bradley Schwartz is a medical malpractice attorney and sepsis survivor determined to help patients identify whether the horrific experience of sepsis could have been prevented.