Jury Picked In Medical Malpractice Trial For Woman Who Lost Her Vision During Pregnancy

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There are a few medical conditions that women can suffer during pregnancy. One such condition is preeclampsia. This is a condition that causes high blood pressure in a pregnant woman. This condition usually occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women who do not have any history of high blood pressure. If it is not treated there can be serious and potentially fatal complications to both the mother and the baby. The only cure for preeclampsia is delivery of the baby. However this may not always be the best course of action for a baby that is not to term.

One woman in Augusta, Georgia filed a medical malpractice lawsuit in October 2009 alleging that two of her doctors where negligent in her care during her pregnancy and during the delivery of her daughter in April 2008. Brooke Wood lost her vision during her pregnancy and alleges that it was due to the physicians’ negligent care. Wood contends that she should have been told from the beginning of her prenatal care of the danger of developing preeclampsia because she gained significant weight, was swelling, and had elevated blood pressure during the months leading up to her delivery. The physicians state that they followed the proper standard of care and therefore cannot be held liable for Wood’s loss of vision.

In the beginning of April, Wood could not urinate and had a severe headache. She called the doctors’ office to report this but the person who answered the call was not a physician, physician’s assistant, nor a nurse. She suspected an infection however and called in a prescription for an antibiotic. Wood’s condition grew worse and she went to the emergency room on April 6th. At the emergency room the physician on call ordered tests to diagnose possible preeclampsia. She also ordered medication to lower Wood’s elevated blood pressure. An emergency delivery was not immediately ordered because at 36 weeks pregnant it was still too early to automatically consider it. The next day when an emergency cesarean section was performed, Wood was blind. According to experts there is no definite reason how the vision loss occurred.

While her vision did return to normal in one eye, the other eye still experiences vision loss. This vision loss adversely affects her ability to drive and perform other common functions. Additionally, Wood could only work part time, resulting in lost income.

If a patient suspects they are a victim of medical malpractice one course of action can be to file a medical malpractice lawsuit to obtain compensation for medical bills and loss of earnings or other damages.

But what do you think? I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com . You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.