(845) 303-1000Preeclampsia is a potentially devastating medical condition that affects pregnant women and their unborn babies. However, with adequate medical care, and if caught early, the effects of it will pose less risk to the mother and the baby.
If preeclampsia was missed or misdiagnosed, and harm occurred as a result, you may have grounds for legal action against the healthcare provider. John H. Fisher, P.C., is a Schenectady preeclampsia lawyer you can trust to protect your rights as a patient or their family.
Contact our dedicated birth injury attorneys today for a free consultation.
Understanding Preeclampsia and Its Effects
Preeclampsia is a medical condition that develops during pregnancy. It is primarily associated with high blood pressure and excessive protein in the urine after 20 weeks. However, these are not the only symptoms that may be present. Other warning signs include:
- Frequent headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Blurry vision or dark spots
- Abdominal pain on the mother’s right side
- Edema or swelling and weight gain due to water retention
Severe preeclampsia can also cause fluid buildup in the mother’s lungs, low platelet counts, and reduced or absent urine production. A misdiagnosis or oversight can cause a variety of complications for the mother and the unborn baby, including:
- Liver damage
- Kidney damage
- Brain injury
In extreme cases, there is a high risk of death for either the mother or the fetus.
How Should Doctors Treat Preeclampsia?
There is no cure for preeclampsia beyond ending the pregnancy. Therefore, treatment options for preeclampsia will vary depending on the severity and the gestational age of the fetus. In most cases, the treatment is the delivery of the baby either through induction or cesarean, especially if the mother is nearing 37 weeks of pregnancy before diagnosis. If this is the case, a mother will be given magnesium sulfate to prevent eclampsia.
If the baby is not full term and the mother is not experiencing severe symptoms, the doctor may provide medications to lower blood pressure. Corticosteroids may also be given to speed up fetal lung development to reduce the risk of respiratory issues if the baby must be born prematurely. If you suspect that your condition was mismanaged or misdiagnosed, a Schenectady preeclampsia lawyer could help you understand your legal options.
Medical Mistakes That Complicate Preeclampsia
Birth injuries or death can be caused by inadequate medical treatment if the physician:
- Does not understand preeclampsia risk factors or symptoms
- Fails to monitor the mother for preeclampsia at 20 weeks
- Does not order the correct tests or misreads the test results
- Does not provide proper treatment for gestational age
If medical malpractice causes harm, the physician may be liable for medical expenses, pain and suffering, ongoing costs due to organ damage, lost income, and other damages. If the mother or the fetus dies because of the malpractice, it may also be possible for the family to file a wrongful death claim.
Proving Preeclampsia Misdiagnosis and Medical Malpractice
Knowing what to do after medical malpractice or misdiagnosis is not always easy. In preeclampsia cases, there may be ongoing medical issues and/or loss. However, what a person or their family does in the days and weeks afterward can support a claim if the victim chooses to file it.
First, there is a statute of limitations to consider. According to § 214-a, a victim of medical malpractice has no more than two years and six months to file a claim. If filing a claim for medical malpractice that causes a wrongful death, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the death, according to § 5-4.1.
Key details that Patients or their families should gather after preeclampsia misdiagnosis or malpractice include:
- Medical records, test results, prescriptions, and providers’ notes
- Pregnancy conversation notes reflecting staff concerns
- Details of the resulting complications and/or ongoing complications
It is also essential to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible who focuses on medical malpractice claims. A Preeclampsia attorney at John H. Fisher, P.C., in Schenectady can review claims, explain patient rights, or help a family seek compensation for their loss.
Speak With a Schenectady Preeclampsia Lawyer Today
Every patient should be appropriately treated by their medical team. Any failure to do so is against the law. No matter how complex your medical questions may seem, we can provide clear answers.
Contact a Schenectady preeclampsia lawyer from John H. Fisher, P.C., for a free consultation regarding your claim today.