A mother-of-two who lost almost all of her limbs is suing doctors who failed to spot she had sepsis.
Magdalena Malec, 31, had to have both of her legs, her right arm and the fingers on her left hand amputated after developing the killer disease while in hospital.
She also needed a kidney transplant after initially being admitted with an ectopic pregnancy.
Bosses at the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital have now apologised for the medical blunder, which they accept could have been completely avoided.
Magdalena Malec (pictured), 31, had to have both of her legs, her right arm and the fingers of her left hand amputated after contracting the killer disease in hospital
Bosses at the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital have now apologised for the medical blunder, which they accept could have been completely avoided. But Magdalena (pictured) said: ‘Nothing will restore what I had’
If caught early, the infection can be controlled by antibiotics before the body goes into overdrive – ultimately leading to death within a matter of minutes. Pictured: Magdalena before she lost her limbs
Her lawyer, David Thomas, clinical negligence partner at Simpson Millar solicitors, said: ‘The catastrophic chain of events which led to Magdalena’s near death and horrendous injuries were completely avoidable if the hospital trust had followed its own sepsis protocol.’ Pictured: Magdalena before suffering sepsis
She added: ‘I do not trust doctors and I am very sceptical about all medical appointments and diagnoses’
Magdalena said: ‘Now my life is not a life, it is vegetation – a fight for life.
‘I was waiting for six months for the amputation of my limbs, with stinking and decaying legs and arms.
‘Nothing will restore what I had. I will never paint my nails again, I will never make a ponytail for my daughter.
‘I do not trust doctors and I am very sceptical about all medical appointments and diagnoses.’
Magdalena, who is mother to Paulina, nine, and Severin, seven, discovered she was pregnant with her third child in December 2014.
But she and her partner Robert were devastated when told just weeks later that she had suffered a miscarriage.
Magdalena, who is mother to Paulina, nine, and Severin, seven, discovered she was pregnant with her third child in December 2014
Magdalena continued suffering from heavy bleeding and stomach cramps, but was sent home from A&E with painkillers and anti-sickness tablets.
She returned to the hospital on Christmas Day and was finally told she’d suffered an ectopic pregnancy.
This occurs when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb and requires urgent surgery to remove the affected fallopian tube and unviable foetus.
‘I had been in and out of hospital since 22 December 2014 and by the time I was admitted on 25 December for surgery my pain was unbearable,’ she said.
‘That hospital hurt me badly and I probably will never trust any hospital again.’
But while in recovery, Magdalena developed extensive limb ischaemia which became gangrenous and caused her body tissue to die.
She later learned it was caused by a loss of blood supply due to medical staff not recognising the classical warning signs for sepsis and failing to follow their own sepsis protocol.
Magdalena had to wait six months for surgery to amputate her limbs, and had to return to hospital three times a week for dialysis, with each session lasting up to four hours.
During this time, her relationship with Robert also broke down due to the pressures of her disabilities.
Magdalena, from Luton in Bedfordshire, said: ‘I have been left on my own, starting with re-learning how to walk, comb my hair, eat and brush my teeth.
‘From the very beginning everything was a big challenge for me. I would wake up and not know what I should do with myself.
‘The only thing I dream about is decent living conditions with my disability and prostheses which will allow me to live as normally as possible.
‘My life is continual hospital appointments and each hospital appointment brings sad memories.
‘I am susceptible to infections because my immune system is weakened by the medicines I take to support my kidneys.
‘I am learning how to live with pain. Going out and coping with the way people look at me is very difficult, and so is self-acceptance.
Magdalena, from Luton in Bedfordshire, said: ‘I have been left on my own, starting with re-learning how to walk, comb my hair, eat and brush my teeth’
A spokesman for Luton and Dunstable University Hospital said: ‘There were missed opportunities to recognise the progressive clinical deterioration of Mrs Malec and act accordingly, including the timely administration of antibiotics’
A patient can rapidly deteriorate if sepsis is missed early on, so quick diagnosis and treatment is vital – yet this rarely happens. Pictured: Magdalena with her prosthetic legs
Magdalena said: ‘I am learning how to live with pain. Going out and coping with the way people look at me is very difficult, and so is self-acceptance’
Magdalena (pictured eating in hospital) had to wait six months for surgery to amputate her limbs, and had to return to hospital three times a week for dialysis, with each session lasting up to four hours.
The NHS has apologised unreservedly for missing all of the classic signs of sepsis that Magdalena was experiencing and accepts the outcome could have been avoided.
Sepsis is blood poisoning caused by the body’s reaction due to an infection.
It requires urgent treatment.
Common symptoms include persistently high temperatures, a rash and itchiness in the legs, blue and mottled limbs and an inability to urinate.
Every year, 250,000 people contract sepsis and 44,000 of them end in deaths – with the other 60,000 suffering with permanent life changing effects.
A serious incident investigation report by the hospital said: ‘Prior to the anaesthetic she was noted to have a raised temperature.
‘But due to the urgency of the clinical procedure she was considered clinically stable to undergo anaesthesia.’
Magdalena has already received an interim payment to help alleviate her financial hardship but she is expected to receive a further payout in due course.
What are the key symptoms of sepsis? The ‘silent killer’ that can cause death in minutes
Sepsis, known as the ‘silent killer’, strikes when an infection such as blood poisoning sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs.
It is the leading cause of avoidable death, killing at least 44,000 a year.
If caught early, the infection can be controlled by antibiotics before the body goes into overdrive – ultimately leading to death within a matter of minutes.
Sepsis is a leading cause of avoidable death killing 44,000 people each year
But the early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, meaning it can be difficult to diagnose.
A patient can rapidly deteriorate if sepsis is missed early on, so quick diagnosis and treatment is vital – yet this rarely happens.
In the early stages, sepsis can be mistaken for a chest infection, flu or upset stomach.
The six signs of something potentially deadly can be identified by the acronym ‘SEPSIS’:
- Slurred speech or confusion.
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain.
- Passing no urine in a day.
- Severe breathlessness.
- ‘I feel like I might die.’
- Skin that’s mottled or discoloured.
Anyone who develops any of these symptoms should seek medical help urgently — and ask doctors: ‘Could this be sepsis?’
Her lawyer, David Thomas, clinical negligence partner at Simpson Millar solicitors, said: ‘The catastrophic chain of events which led to Magdalena’s near death and horrendous injuries were completely avoidable if the hospital trust had followed its own sepsis protocol.
‘There were a number of missed opportunities or “red flags” which were not acted upon until it was too late.
‘If diagnosed early enough, sepsis is easily treated with antibiotics but despite recent awareness campaigns, mistakes such as this are still happening. It’s tragic.’
A spokesman for Luton and Dunstable University Hospital added: ‘There were missed opportunities to recognise the progressive clinical deterioration of Mrs Malec and act accordingly, including the timely administration of antibiotics.
‘We convey our sincere apologies to Mrs Malec and we recognise the care provided fell below the standards we strive for.
‘We undertook an investigation to examine what improvements could be put in place, learning’s were shared in order to prevent similar cases.’