Sepsis Delay Claim Type Guide

Sepsis-delay allegations are highly time-dependent

A review should reconstruct symptoms, vital signs, laboratory findings, suspected infection source, clinician assessments, escalation, antibiotics, fluids or other treatment, and transfer to higher-level care. Sepsis itself does not establish negligent care.

Evidence to organize by hour when possible

• Emergency and nursing flowsheets
• Vital signs and laboratory result timestamps
• Culture collection and medication administration times
• Imaging or source-control procedure records
• Rapid-response, ICU, or transfer documentation

Causation still requires expert analysis

Experts may need to address the severity of the underlying infection, when deterioration became clinically apparent, which response is alleged to have been delayed, and whether a different response probably would have changed the outcome.