Sharzia Bibi, a young mother from Manchester, tragically died due to medical negligence after sepsis misdiagnosis, at only 30 years old.
Sharzia was admitted to the hospital‘s emergency department on November 14, 2023, suffering from severe stomach pain and bleeding. Once admitted, medics failed to give her appropriate antibiotics to treat sepsis for more than 25 hours.
Sharzia Bibi’s misdiagnosis
Initially, doctors suspected Sharzia might have a water or pelvic infection, leading them to develop a prescription plan that included oral antibiotics.
Despite presenting symptoms indicative of sepsis, including a high heart rate and decreased functional ability, medical staff failed to recognize the life-threatening condition.
The extent of Sharzia’s medical neglect
The initial plan for Sharzia to receive oral antibiotics was ignored, meaning she did not receive treatment for nine hours.
It was compulsory for Sharzia to be monitored every four hours due to her emergency admission and the severity of her condition. However, she was not assessed by medical staff for over nine hours. When she finally received treatment, they were not suitable for her suspected misdiagnosis.
The following day, she underwent emergency surgery at 12.30pm on 15 November. It was only then that she was diagnosed with sepsis.
Despite being transferred to intensive care and put on intravenous (IV) antibiotics, her health deteriorated rapidly. Tragically, at around 8.25pm, Sharzia suffered a cardiac arrest.
Unfortunately, she died in the early hours of the following morning. Sadly, leaving behind two beautiful boys who are now aged two and four as well as her devastated family and friends.
Hospital Trust admits liability for Sharzia’s death
Following this tragic loss, Sharzia’s family sought the expertise of medical negligence lawyers to investigate the circumstances surrounding her care and secure answers for this devastating situation.
In a civil claim, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, who runs Wythenshawe Hospital, admitted liability for Sharzia’s death.
The Trust admitted that were it not for the failures in care, on the balance of probabilities, Sharzia would not have died when she did.
Inquest findings
On March 18th, an inquest at Manchester Coroner’s Court came to an end. Concluding that Sharzia tragically passed away from sepsis and medical neglect.
Coroner James Lester-Ashworth recorded a narrative conclusion, making six findings of gross failings in Sharzia’s care which amounted to neglect.
The ultimate findings were:
- Failure to consider sepsis when Sharzia was initially reviewed by a doctor, and she was showing signs of the condition.
- Failure to provide the correct IV antibiotics for her diagnoses of a water or pelvic infection in line with the Hospital Trust’s anti-microbial policy. Instead, oral antibiotics were prescribed.
- A nine-hour delay before antibiotics were prescribed and a delay of over 25 hours in prescribing appropriate IV antibiotics.
- Given her emergency admission, Sharzia should have had observations every four hours. Between 9pm on 14 November and 6.14am the following day, no observations were undertaken.
- Monitoring of Sharzia’s fluid intake and urine output was inaccurate.
- IV fluids should have been given but were not and the nursing staff did not identify or report this to the medical team.
Ongoing investigations are determined to secure answers and hold accountable those responsible for the neglect that led to her sudden death.
Sharzia’s passing serves as a sobering reminder of the risks of sepsis and the importance of critical importance of timely and accurate medical assessments, early identification, and treatment in overcoming it.
Frequently asked questions
What is medical misdiagnosis?
Alongside delayed diagnosis, medical misdiagnosis is one of the most common types of medical negligence claims.
Medical misdiagnosis (incorrect diagnosis or failure to diagnose) is when a medical professional provides an incorrect diagnosis or fails to diagnosis you after negligently misinterpreting your symptoms and/or not investigating your symptoms appropriately.
If you have received an incorrect diagnosis, you may have undergone unnecessary treatments or procedures. Further to this, your condition may go untreated, or your treatment may get delayed, meaning that you may require more invasive treatment in the future.
What is delay in misdiagnosis?
Here a medical professional fails to a diagnosis a health condition when they should have done or fails to refer you for investigations, meaning you are diagnosed late.
This can again lead to a worsening of the condition and prolong your period without necessary treatment.
This can include:
- Delays in referrals
- Delays in scans scans
- Other investigations
- Medical professionals overlooking symptoms
- Records that are re-reviewed at a later date and urgently acted upon once the delay has been identified.
Where might misdiagnosis occur, and with what conditions?
Medical misdiagnosis and/or delay can occur in all areas of medical practice. However, are very common in the following settings:
Furthermore, medical misdiagnosis and/or delay can occur in diagnosing any medical conditions however are very common in the following medical conditions:
Medical misdiagnosis and/or delay can severely affect an individual’s life, treatment options, recovery period and in more serious cases the chance of survival.
If you have been given the wrong medical advice or course of treatment which has left you in a debilitating condition, you may be eligible to make a medical misdiagnosis and/or delay claim.
How do I make a claim?
If you feel that you have been affected as a result of late diagnosis or incorrect or inappropriate treatment, then you may be entitled to bring about a claim for compensation.
The team at Oakwood Solicitors Ltd will be able to give you free advice on the prospects of your case and whether you would be eligible to make a claim.
Who can bring about a claim?
The patient who has been affected may be able to bring about a claim. However, it can also sadly be the case that the patient has passed as a result of the disease. In such instances, the executor of the estate or the next of kin/dependents may be able to bring about a claim.
Our specialist team will be able to discuss whether you have a right to bring about a claim, so if you or a loved one has been affected do not hesitate to contact us.
What do I do if I have experienced misdiagnosis?
If you or a loved one has suffered due to misdiagnosis or inadequate care, seek legal advice immediately. Visit Oakwood Solicitors’ medical misdiagnosis resource to learn about your rights.
Further reading
Medical misdiagnosis or delay – Oakwood Solicitors
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Jade Glover is a Solicitor in the Medical Negligence team. She has worked for the company for over 9 years and completed her training during that time. She has specialised in Personal Injury clai…
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