Diagnostic Delays in Sepsis: Lessons Learned From a Retrospective Study of Canadian Medico-Legal Claims.

ABSTRACT: Although rapid treatment improves outcomes for patients presenting with sepsis, early detection can be difficult, especially in otherwise healthy adults.

Objectives

Using medico-legal data, we aimed to identify areas of focus to assist with early recognition of sepsis.

Design setting and participants

Retrospective descriptive design. We analyzed closed medico-legal cases involving physicians from a national database repository at the Canadian Medical Protective Association. The study included cases closed between 2011 and 2020 that had documented peer expert criticism of a diagnostic issue related to sepsis or relevant infections.

Main outcomes and measures

We used univariate statistics to describe patients and physicians and applied published frameworks to classify co

SUBMITTER: Neilson HK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9894347 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature