Can I Do Anything if My Chicago OB-GYN Failed to Diagnose My Preeclampsia?

 Posted on February 11, 2022 in Birth Injury

Pregnant women in Illinois are at an increased risk of many injuries and diseases. Every year, around 700 women in the United States die as a result of pregnancy or childbirth, and experts estimate well over half of these deaths could be prevented with proper medical care. 

Preeclampsia is a particularly dangerous condition that tends to happen later in pregnancy. Left undiagnosed and untreated, preeclampsia can cause serious complications and birth injuries that can be fatal for a mother and her child. It is crucial for maternal medical caregivers to recognize signs of preeclampsia early and monitor patients very carefully. When an Illinois doctor fails to diagnose preeclampsia and the mother or child suffers, it may be possible to successfully claim damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit. 

Understanding the Risks of Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a medical condition characterized by high blood pressure coupled with abnormally high protein levels in urine and swelling throughout the body. Usually, preeclampsia does not appear until after 20 weeks, although it can come earlier than that and, rarely, even after delivery. Preeclampsia is thought to happen when new blood vessels responsible for nourishing the infant during pregnancy do not develop correctly. They do not allow enough blood to flow through them, causing high blood pressure throughout the rest of the mother’s body. 

Unfortunately, preeclampsia cannot be prevented and the only cure for a mother with preeclampsia is to have her baby. This can present serious issues when the infant is too young to be born. Left untreated, however, preeclampsia can develop into eclampsia, which is the onset of seizures or coma. Because the symptoms of preeclampsia are similar to many pregnancy complaints, it can be difficult to differentiate preeclampsia from other common issues. 

Birth Injuries From Undiagnosed Preeclampsia

When preeclampsia is undiagnosed and an infant continues developing, the infant may suffer from conditions including: 

• Cerebral palsy
• Learning disabilities
• Epilepsy
• Hearing and vision problems. 

The mother may also suffer serious complications, including: 

• Seizures
• Strokes
• Heart failure
• Hemorrhaging
• Damaged organs, especially the liver
• Reduced blood clotting capability

Women with a history of preeclampsia, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and other related conditions may be at an increased risk of developing preeclampsia. Doctors must monitor patient health histories carefully and act quickly if a mother or her infant is at risk. 

Contact a Cook County Birth Injuries Lawyer

Preeclampsia is a serious condition that, left undiagnosed and untreated, can threaten the life of a mother and her infant. If you believe you were a victim of a medical practitioner who failed to provide you with the appropriate standard of maternal care, you may want to meet with a Cook County medical malpractice attorney with Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd.. You can schedule a free case review with one of our team members by calling us today at 312-462-4200. 

Source:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preeclampsia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355745