Mismanaged Preeclampsia Medical Malpractice

Pregnancy comes with tremendous physical changes. Many of these changes bring joy and expectation, but sometimes pregnancy takes an unanticipated toll on a woman’s body, or complications arise that endanger both mother and child. One of the most common and high-risk pregnancy complications is preeclampsia.

Despite the dangers of preeclampsia, today’s medical advances allow for the safe delivery of a healthy baby even when the mother is experiencing preeclampsia; however, preeclampsia cases require diligent medical monitoring and properly managed treatment.

An experienced Arizona medical malpractice attorney works with medical experts to determine whether delays or failures in care caused preventable harm and whether the case qualifies for compensation under Arizona law.

What Is Preeclampsia, and What Causes It?

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that causes high blood pressure (hypertension) and excess protein in the urine. According to medical studies, preeclampsia is a leading cause of fetal and maternal fatalities.

Because these signs aren’t typically noticeable, doctors must carefully monitor a pregnant woman’s blood pressure and urine sample at every prenatal visit. Any pregnant woman may develop preeclampsia.

Doctors believe that the condition develops from problems with placental development, when overly narrow blood vessels limit blood flow to the developing fetus. The mother’s blood pressure rises to ensure adequate blood flow.

Unfortunately, when left untreated, preeclampsia cases can become hazardous to the mother and child due to dangerously high maternal blood pressure.

Signs of Preeclampsia

Although many women experience no warning signs or symptoms of preeclampsia and instead are diagnosed during blood pressure and urine checks at their prenatal appointment, some women report the following symptoms:

• Headaches that persist despite pain medications
• Pain under the ribs
• Heartburn that persists despite medications
• Vomiting, despite being beyond the typical morning sickness stage of the first trimester
• Seeing flashing lights
• Blurred vision
• Swelling of the feet, hands, and/or face
• General malaise (feeling unwell)

If you experience any of the above symptoms, it’s critical to see your doctor for a blood pressure check and complete evaluation.

Although there is no cure for preeclampsia except by delivering the baby, medical providers can safely manage the condition with anti-hypertension medications to lower blood pressure and magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures. Severe cases of preeclampsia may require a hospital stay and constant monitoring until an induced delivery at 37 weeks.

Mismanaging a Preeclampsia Case

Obstetricians and other medical providers caring for women during pregnancy have a legal duty that requires them to treat their patients at the standard of care accepted by the medical community. Unfortunately, some providers fail to meet this requirement. Common mismanaged preeclampsia cases include negligence, such as the following:

• Failing to diagnose preeclampsia despite a patient presenting clear signs, including protein in the urine and high blood pressure
• Failing to properly monitor a pregnant patient’s blood pressure and urine
• Ignoring a patient who is reporting symptoms, such as headaches and vision changes
• Failing to adequately monitor fetal growth and health
• Failing to perform an emergency C-section to save the mother’s life

Without careful, appropriate management, a pregnant woman may suffer kidney damage or experience dangerously elevated blood pressure, causing seizures, a stroke, and maternal death. Mismanaging a preeclampsia case is actionable medical malpractice.

Proving Medical Malpractice In a Mismanaged Preeclampsia Case

When a medical provider improperly manages preeclampsia, it can result in fetal and/or maternal brain injury or fatality. Proving medical malpractice requires evidence showing the following:

• A doctor-patient relationship was established
• The doctor owed a legal duty of care to treat the patient at the accepted medical standard
• They breached this duty of care through negligence
• The breach of duty caused injury to the patient
• The patient or their surviving family suffered damages from the injury

An Arizona medical malpractice attorney investigates, documents evidence of liability, and calculates the economic and non-economic damages to recover the maximum available compensation.

How Can a Medical Malpractice Attorney Help My Case?

Proving medical malpractice takes an experienced investigation with access to medical expert testimony and additional resources. An experienced Phoenix preeclampsia attorney will handle your case with both compassion and professional excellence.