Medical negligence compensation and the effects of bedsores
Patients with conditions that cause a degree of immobility are at risk of suffering from bedsores. While there are cases in which bedsores are inevitable, this is by no means true of all situations; this means that patients who find themselves suffering from avoidable bedsores may be able to make a medical negligence compensation claim.
Bedsores
A bedsore is caused by continual pressure on the flesh, particularly on areas where there is little flesh between bones and the skin. The most common areas for bedsores are the shoulderblades, the sacrum (at the base of the spine), the calves and the heels, as the bodyweight of a person lying down will often rest on these areas.
The condition can be made more likely if a patient is subjected to friction and 'shear force' - the name given to the situation where a patient's skeleton moves relatively to the flesh, potentially blocking the bloodflow to vulnerable areas. Other contributory factors may include smoking, poor nutrition, anaemia and incontinence.
It is a graded injury. A bedsore of:
- grade 1 has unbroken skin that has reddened and grown tender;
- grade 2 has broken through the surface of the patient's skin, but not penetrated the dermis;
- grade 3 has penetrated the dermis and entered the subcutaneous fat;
- grade 4 has penetrated the fat layer and entered muscle tissue, possibly revealing bone.
Besides being a traumatic wound in its own right, an open bedsore is a potential site for infections, including MRSA, which can lead to prolonged hospitalisation, amputation or even death.
Avoiding bedsores
On entering a hospital in the UK, a patient who may be at risk of bedsores will be given a Waterlow assessment. Medical staff should then be able to use this to tailor the care given so that bedsores are avoided - this may involve anything from turning the patient regularly to the use of special equipment.
Making a medical negligence claim for bedsore injuries
Bedsores are not necessarily evidence of medical negligence, but may well be. If, however, they are ignored and allowed to worsen, this would be strong evidence.
YouClaim are experts in medical negligence law. If you have suffered bedsore injuries, we will be able to help you decide if you are eligible to make a claim, and to help you in the process of making that claim if you decide to take that option.
A personal injury solicitor from our expert medical law team will be assigned to you. He or she will begin by discussing your case sensitively and in confidence, and keep you updated in plain English as your claim progresses.
The quality of our legal team's work is guaranteed, as they are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. We also guarantee that a successful case will result in 100% compensation being passed to you.
Call our team for free advice on your medical negligence claim on 0800 10 757 95, chat to us online, or complete our claim form, and we will strive to help you take your case to a successful conclusion.
