Negligent Management of an Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is always an upsetting experience, and this will be all the more true in the event of a delayed diagnosis. If this has happened to you, we understand how traumatised you will be feeling: not only have you lost a baby, you have also been made extremely unwell by the inability of medical professionals to make a timely diagnosis.
Diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy
Diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy begins with recognising the symptoms. It is likely a woman will first start to experience one-sided abdominal pain – a consequence of the foetus being lodged inside the fallopian tube. This pain will get progressively worse, while other symptoms such as shoulder tip pain, bowel pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and vaginal bleeding will develop.
These symptoms are very similar to a number of other illnesses. But nevertheless, when a woman presents with these health complaints, medical professionals should consider a list of possible diagnoses: one of which should be an ectopic pregnancy. Steps should then be taken to confirm or rule out this suspicion.
Because ectopic pregnancies often occur in the first trimester, a woman may or may not be aware that she is pregnant. If a patient is uncertain, a pregnancy test should be performed. However, if it is an ectopic pregnancy the test may not be positive, so a vaginal ultrasound be may also be needed to confirm a diagnosis.
Once an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed, no time should be wasted in providing the necessary treatment. A foetus sadly cannot survive an ectopic pregnancy, so the pregnancy will need to be terminated, either via surgery or medication.
Delayed diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy
But sadly not all ectopic pregnancies are diagnosed in a timely fashion. This often happens when doctors do not link a woman's symptoms to the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy, in turn causing a misdiagnosis. This can, however, be extremely problematic. If not treated in time, an ectopic pregnancy can cause the fallopian tube to rupture. This is a very serious complication and can even be fatal.
Claiming for medical negligence
If this has happened to you or your loved one, get in touch with a medical negligence solicitor to talk about the treatment you received. If your ectopic pregnancy was not diagnosed within a reasonable amount of time, and this caused you to suffer complications, you will be entitled to compensation for the substandard treatment you have been subject to.
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Can We Help You With A Medical Negligence Enquiry?
Early legal assistance can be vital so please contact us if you would like to discuss your situation. Please call us free on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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