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Posted Feb 6th, 2012
Can I sue for Salmonella?

Additional Details:
My daughter was diagnosed with Salmonella. She ate something in the cafeteria of her college
campus. Initially she went to student health services. Health services told her she had a stomach
virus. I took her to an ER 2 days later. Blood pressure 103/43 and severely dehydrated, fever,
severe abdominal cramps. They too told us she had a stomach virus or the flu.. Took her to another
ER a day and a half later and they admitted her. Three days in hospital on IV''s, cat scans and pain
medicine then finally diagnosed with clear cut Salmonella. She missed 2 weeks of school and my
medical bills are mounting. Can I sue anyone for this long drawn out fiasco?
Legal Topic Area: Medical Malpractice in IL

Assuming that your daughter is 18 or older, you probably can't but she most likely can. The problem will be determining the cause of the salmonella-- because salmonella poisoning is almost always food-borne, there are almost always multiple victims. This makes it easier to pinpoint the cause because you can figure out what foods the sick people have in common. If no one around your daughter has salmonella poisoning, I worry a little that the most likely cause is some source which only she has access to-- like leftovers or something. Nevertheless, she (or the two of you together) should speak with a lawyer in the state where she goes to college right away.

I hope she feels better soon. Best of luck.


Answered on Feb 15th, 2012 at 2:25pm