Have you been diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy? Ectopic pregnancies can be hazardous to pregnant women and should be terminated before the health risks to the mother are too significant.
If your ectopic pregnancy was misdiagnosed and you suffered complications, such as a burst fallopian tube, it could be medical malpractice. You could have grounds to file an ectopic pregnancy claim or lawsuit. Wagner Reese, LLP’s birth injury and medical malpractice attorneys can evaluate your case to determine if you should sue for negligence.
You can rely on the skill and expertise of our attorneys to fight for justice. Many Wagner Reese attorneys have been honored as among the Best Lawyers in America© by Best Lawyers® in 2022 and 2024. We have obtained millions in settlements and favorable jury verdicts for personal injury victims, including those harmed by medical malpractice.
What Is an Ectopic Pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the egg implants outside of the uterus at the beginning of pregnancy. If a woman has an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, the embryo could make the fallopian tube burst, which is a medical emergency. Without immediate care, there could be significant hemorrhaging, serious injury, and possibly death.
At the start of an ectopic pregnancy, most women have similar symptoms as a regular pregnancy. You could miss a menstruation cycle, have tender breasts, and experience nausea and fatigue. But as the ectopic pregnancy progresses, some symptoms differ from a normal pregnancy:
- Severe abdominal or pelvic pain that worsens with movement
- Severe pelvic cramping, usually on one side
- Spotting
- Moderate or severe vaginal bleeding
- Low blood pressure
- Pain in the lower back
- Faintness
- Extreme dizziness
If you’re pregnant and have these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor immediately. An ectopic pregnancy can have serious complications that could lead to death.
How Ectopic Pregnancies Are Diagnosed
A urine test can show that a woman is pregnant, but that will not reveal if it is ectopic. To determine if it’s an ectopic pregnancy, the doctor may do the following:
- Perform an examination of your abdominal and pelvic areas. Your physician will check you for possible tenderness and growths in these regions.
- Do a blood test to see if you have low pregnancy hormone levels. HCG is the pregnancy hormone that usually doubles during a routine pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, HCG levels stay low.
- Perform an ultrasound of your abdominal and pelvic regions.
If your doctor doesn’t perform these steps, they could miss the ectopic pregnancy.
How Ectopic Pregnancies Are Treated
After being diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, the doctor should act fast to prevent harm. Typical steps to treat an ectopic pregnancy are medication or surgery to eliminate or remove the embryo. The intervention used depends on how far along the pregnancy is. If your doctor catches the problem early, they could prescribe methotrexate to end the pregnancy. You will probably need a few follow-up visits to determine if the drug worked.
If the ectopic pregnancy has gone past the first several weeks, you may need a laparoscopy to terminate the pregnancy. This procedure involves making a small incision in your belly button so they can remove the embryo from your fallopian tube.
A misdiagnosed ectopic pregnancy could result in harm or even death in the mother. Some women lose the ability to become pregnant and may have other physical injuries, such as a burst fallopian tube and heavy bleeding. Plus, the mother may suffer immense mental and emotional trauma from the ordeal, especially if they can no longer get pregnant.
Potential Damages For a Misdiagnosed Ectopic Pregnancy
The fallopian tubes and other parts of the woman’s reproductive system are not made to handle the growth of the fertilized egg. If a misdiagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy injures you, you could be entitled to compensation for:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and loss of future income
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
If your loved one died from a missed ectopic pregnancy diagnosis, our attorneys may assist you with filing a wrongful death claim against the doctor or hospital.
Speak to Our Indianapolis Birth Injury Attorneys Today
For over two decades, Wagner Reese has assisted injured clients and families with birth injury claims throughout Indiana. Our Indianapolis birth injury attorneys have more than 150 years of combined personal injury claim experience and have an outstanding reputation for achieving fair settlements and favorable jury verdicts.
If you were injured because of a misdiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, our attorneys can help you pursue compensation. To set an appointment, call (866) 824-6380 for legal help.
