Sepsis awareness month: Tracy’s story

September is Sepsis Awareness Month, with 13 September being World Sepsis Awareness Day – a time dedicated to raising awareness about sepsis, the world’s leading cause of death from infection. Sepsis claims the lives of 8,700 Australians and 11 million people globally each year.

Sepsis is a serious and time-critical emergency in which the body responds improperly to an infection and begins to turn on itself. The body’s infection-fighting inflammatory response can damage its own tissues and organs, leading to shock and potentially death if not recognised early and treated promptly.

We share our client Tracy’s story to demonstrate the profound effects sepsis can have on an individual’s life – and to highlight the crucial need for timely and appropriate medical care.

Our client: Tracy

Tracy was a 39-year-old mother of three, nearing the end of her maternity leave and preparing to return to work as a laboratory technician when sepsis changed her life forever.

Early on 4 March 2020, Tracy attended a local hospital emergency department after experiencing extreme full-body aches and pains, fevers and gastro-like symptoms for three days.

Shortly after arriving at the emergency department, Tracy underwent numerous investigations that were diagnostic of sepsis and/or consistent with a serious bacterial infection and sepsis.

Unfortunately, the hospital failed to recognise Tracy’s sepsis at that time. Instead, they admitted her to the ward for treatment of gastroenteritis. She received intravenous fluids and pain medication.

The next day, Tracy’s condition deteriorated, and she began showing more sepsis symptoms. After further testing, the hospital finally suspected sepsis, but it wasn’t until 3:00 pm that she was given intravenous antibiotics. By then, it was too late, and Tracy went into septic shock. At 4:55 pm, a code blue was called, and Tracy was placed in an induced coma.

Tracy remained in the Intensive Care Units of two hospitals for more than two months while she underwent intensive rehabilitation and reconditioning.

After her discharge, Tracy continued to suffer from post-sepsis complications, including cardiomyopathy, peripheral ischemia and nasal septal perforation. Tracy also had her big toe amputated due to the high dose of vasopressor therapy required during her prolonged Intensive Care admission.

Tracy's life-altering experience with sepsis and the aftermath

Before the hospital’s misdiagnosis that Tracy alleges led to her ongoing illness and amputation injury, she was physically active and enjoyed regular boot camp-style group activities and running.

Today, due to her condition, Tracy can no longer engage in much physical activity, as her mobility and endurance have decreased. Tracy also experiences pain and breathlessness.

More than four years later, Tracy continues to receive treatment for her post-sepsis complications, and her life has drastically changed. Tracy alleges that if her condition had been appropriately managed when her sepsis should have been identified on 4 March 2020, she would likely have had a significantly better outcome.

“It is crucial that sepsis is diagnosed and treated at an early stage so that patients like Tracy receive the care that they need and hopefully avoid the outcome that she has unfortunately suffered,” says Gabrielle Feery, Senior Associate at Maurice Blackburn, who is acting on Tracy’s behalf. 

Sepsis signs and symptoms

Tracy’s story highlights the importance of Sepsis Awareness Month and World Sepsis Awareness Day in educating the medical profession and the public about the early detection of sepsis. Sepsis Australia has published information regarding key signs and symptoms to look out for, including:

• rapid breathing
• rapid heart rate
• confusion, slurred speech or disorientation
• fever or shivering
• muscle pain
• not passing urine
• discoloured skin.

Time is critical. If you or someone you know feels unwell or experiences a combination of the symptoms mentioned above, contact a health professional or go to the nearest emergency department – and always ask, “Could it be sepsis?”

Support available

If you or a loved one have experienced sepsis, and received inadequate health care or treatment resulting in a poor outcome, it’s important to seek advice as soon as possible.

Our team of expert Medical Negligence lawyers are here to help you understand your legal options and achieve the best possible outcome.