Free Consultation
One of the complications that pregnant women may experience during their pregnancy is preeclampsia, which is a form of high blood pressure that can prevent the mother’s arteries from transporting enough blood to the fetus. Typically occurring after week 20 of pregnancy, preeclampsia is a serious condition that can cause severe and even life-threatening harm to both the mother and child. Obstetricians and other medical professionals must know the signs of this condition and take prompt action to address it once it arises.
When you or your child sustained severe physical harm because your doctors failed to treat your preeclampsia correctly, you may want to speak with a compassionate birth injury attorney at Lowenthal & Abrams about the possibility of civil litigation. Even if money alone cannot completely undo the experience you have gone through, demanding fair restitution with a Philadelphia preeclampsia lawyer’s help can still be crucial to maximizing your and your child’s quality of life.
Symptoms and Risks of Preeclampsia
While there may be various factors that can contribute to a pregnant woman developing preeclampsia, physicians generally agree that it seems to stem from new blood vessels that form to transport blood to the placenta when it is not forming properly. In addition to abnormally high blood pressure, preeclampsia can also cause symptoms like:
- Headaches
- Fluid in the legs
- Kidney or liver problems
- Extreme headaches or vision changes
- Abdominal pain, typically under the ribs
- Too much protein in the urine, or proteinuria
- Too few platelets in the blood, or thrombocytopenia
Preeclampsia can result in a fetus not getting enough oxygen and nutrients from its mother, which can stunt its growth and may cause premature labor and birth. As any experienced Philadelphia preeclampsia attorney knows, it can also increase the risk of a placental abruption occurring, cause cardiovascular disease or organ damage, and result in seizures or a coma if the condition advances to eclampsia.
Preeclampsia and the Standard of Care
While doctors are not expected to be perfect while caring for pregnant patients, they are expected to know what complications pregnant women may face during pregnancy, quickly identify any complications that occur, and provide appropriate treatment upon making that diagnosis. Because preeclampsia cannot be cured except by the mother giving birth, it is obligatory for doctors treating that mother to use their skills and experience to provide the best possible care specifically for her and her baby, whether that is ordering bed rest or a Cesarean section.
Understanding When a Doctor Does Not Meet the Standard of Care
When a doctor does not correctly identify preeclampsia or does not order proper treatment when another equally qualified physician would have under the same circumstances, they have breached the standard of care applicable to them. If that breach is the direct cause of any injury to the mother or child requiring professional medical care or of any ultimately fatal injury or condition, a preeclampsia lawyer in Philadelphia may be able to help the impacted family take legal action against the physicians responsible for their injuries and losses.
Consult With a Philadelphia Preeclampsia Attorney Today
While preeclampsia is not always a life-threatening condition, doctors should not take it lightly when caring for pregnant women either. When you or your child sustained severe harm from this condition because your doctors did not care for you correctly, you may have grounds to file suit against them and demand that they compensate you for damages your family has sustained due to their misconduct.
This kind of lawsuit can be challenging on both legal and emotional levels, and guidance from an understanding and qualified legal professional can help obtain a favorable result. Call Lowenthal & Abrams today to learn how a Philadelphia preeclampsia lawyer can assist you.
