Ideally, a pregnant woman would carry a child in the womb for nine months without any complications. Unfortunately, many things can happen during that time. A woman could develop an infection or illness. One common condition that pregnant women experience is preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia is defined as high blood pressure during pregnancy. It can also continue through the first six weeks after delivery. The high blood pressure is accompanied by increased levels of protein in the urine.
Preeclampsia is a serious condition, as it is dangerous to both mother and unborn child and requires immediate treatment to prevent it from worsening into eclampsia, which causes complications such as seizures, coma, and death.
Preeclampsia affects as many as 8% of pregnancies. It can quickly get worse and put both the mother and fetus in danger. It can lead to premature birth as well as medical conditions that last the child’s entire life.
There is no effective treatment for preeclampsia except to deliver the child. But still, if a doctor ignores the warning signs or fails to properly manage the condition, then you may have a viable medical malpractice claim for preeclampsia. Learn more about your legal rights by contacting a Baltimore preeclampsia lawyer from Furman | Honick Law.
Causes and Risk Factors
There are several known risk factors for preeclampsia:
- Women over the age of 40 and under the age of 20
- Women who have had preeclampsia or eclampsia in previous pregnancies
- Black women
- Overweight women
- Women who live in the southeastern United States
Preeclampsia is often associated with kidney and metabolic abnormalities. It can occur anytime after Week 20 of the pregnancy. Most preeclampsia cases start after the 34th week of pregnancy. Women face a higher risk if it starts before the 32nd week.
When is it Medical Malpractice?
Preeclampsia needs to be taken seriously. A doctor or midwife who fails to notice the signs of preeclampsia or fails to treat the condition may be responsible for any resulting injury or death.
Prenatal care is important for this reason. Medical professionals have a duty to monitor an expectant mother for symptoms of preeclampsia. If left undiagnosed, it is dangerous to the mother and baby. Even in mild cases, the woman requires bed rest. Anything more severe requires hospitalization.
Magnesium sulfate injections can help lower the possibility of seizures. If the baby is large enough, and the woman is stable, labor can be induced or doctors can perform a C-section.
Some common examples of medical malpractice include:
- Failure to see the symptoms of preeclampsia
- Delivering the baby too soon or not soon enough
- Failure to hospitalize the pregnant woman when necessary
- Failure to give a urine protein test
Contact Furman | Honick Law Today
Preeclampsia needs to be taken seriously during a pregnancy. Otherwise, it can have life-threatening effects for both the mother and baby.
If your preeclampsia was not properly diagnosed or treated, it may be medical malpractice. Seek legal help from Furman | Honick Law. Our award-winning Baltimore preeclampsia lawyers will get you compensation and justice. To schedule a free consultation, fill out the online form or call (410) 844-6000.