SJS and TEN destroy the skin’s protective barrier, leaving wounds that resemble severe burns. Patients endure weeks in burn units, with grafts, dressings, and pain that lingers long after discharge.
Severe Injuries from SJS and TEN
These severe conditions don’t stop at the skin. The inflammation they cause often spreads to the lungs, liver, and kidneys, causing lasting damage that alters health and demands lifelong care.
For many survivors, the eyes suffer first. Corneal damage and scarring can leave patients partially or completely blind, making vision loss one of the most devastating outcomes of SJS and TEN.
Fatal Outcomes
When SJS escalates into Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, mortality rates can exceed 30 to 80%. The larger the skin loss, the higher the risk of death.
Even with advanced treatment in ICU or burn units, complications like sepsis, organ failure, and respiratory decline push survival into uncertain territory.
Too often, these deaths trace back to medication triggers or drug warnings that were never issued. Legal action helps families hold the responsible parties accountable.
Legal Rights in Cases of Injury or Wrongful Death
At Dunn Sheehan, we stand for these rights with conviction, turning injuries and wrongful deaths into outcomes that provide accountability and financial security for families. When SJS or TEN leads to catastrophic harm or loss, the law provides avenues for accountability.
- Medical expenses and long-term care
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma
- Loss of companionship or support
- Funeral and end-of-life costs
Families and survivors may pursue claims that include:
Leaders in SJS Litigation
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Results Recognized Nationwide
Recognition doesn’t come from claims—it comes from outcomes. Nationwide, no firm has achieved our results for victims of SJS and TEN.
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SJS is the Center of Our Work
Other firms touch SJS occasionally. For us, it’s daily work. Our attorneys dedicate themselves to these cases, delivering unmatched focus for people navigating life’s harshest preventable injuries.
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Experience That Defines the Field
For decades, our teams have guided families through the aftermath of SJS and TEN, combining medical knowledge with litigation skill to secure life-changing outcomes.
Both are devastating, but simply put, TEN is far more severe than SJS. The difference comes down to how much of the body is affected:
- SJS involves less than 10% of the skin’s surface.
- SJS/TEN overlap involves 10–30%.
- TEN involves more than 30% of the skin’s surface, often requiring intensive care or burn-unit treatment.
Understanding this distinction can help families make sense of the medical terminology and see why experienced legal guidance is so critical in these cases.
TEN moves fast. A fever or rash today can become blisters and skin loss within days.
Families often feel blindsided by how quickly their loved one’s condition unravels, requiring transfer to a burn unit. When preparing a lawsuit related to toxic epidermal necrolysis, it is critical to track when symptoms began and what medications were taken.
Yes. When TEN leads to loss of life, families may recover damages for medical bills, funeral costs, and the loss of companionship or support. Wrongful death litigation ensures that the impact of TEN reaches the highest levels of justice we can achieve. Our team helps families document these realities, much like we do with pediatric SJS cases where we fight to turn a difficult diagnosis into a more stable future.