My mum died in hospital after a very short admission following her first chemo session. She died of sepsis following an infection that she had been hospitalised by twice in the few years before her chemo started.
I've just had a call to say that after a (routine) investigation into her unexpected death that they have concluded that she should have been given antibiotics on admission (due to presenting symptoms and recent history) but she wasn't given them until at least 12 hours after admission. I was with her at admission and for a couple of hours afterwards (she was admitted straight to oncology, they knew the risk factors) and categorically told them in my best advocating way that her symptoms were identical to her previous infections and that she had had massive doses of antibiotics via IV previously.
Unfortunately the infection overwhelmed her and she died within 36 hours of entering the building.
I'm numb. They are taking this 'to the next stage' and apparently interviewing all the staff involved with her care to see where the errors were made. I feel like screaming from the rooftops. Do I sue them? Do I scream and shout that even I knew she needed antibiotics and asked as much on admission?
I've been holding it together for 2 months and now this. I can hardly breathe.