The birth of a child is an occasion for celebration. Parents are eager to welcome their first children or new siblings to the family. However, pregnancy and giving birth both come with their share of physical suffering and medical issues. Some families wind up dealing with a serious medical situation instead of a healthy newborn.
One of the most common pregnancy complications is preeclampsia, which can cause different health risks for both mother and baby. If your medical team missed warning signs and you or your child suffered an injury as a result, you may have a medical malpractice claim, and you should reach out to a Pennsylvania preeclampsia lawyer for help. Our birth injury attorneys at The Weitz Firm, LLC, know how difficult these situations can be and are here to support you along the way.
What is Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure (140/90 mmHg or higher) and high levels of protein in the urine (proteinuria). It is important for the obstetric care team to closely monitor pregnant people for signs of preeclampsia, especially if they have risk factors like personal or family history of it, maternal age over 35, obesity, or a pregnancy with multiple children.
Some of the most common warning signs of preeclampsia outside of high blood pressure and proteinuria include:
- Swelling in the hands, face, or feet
- Sudden weight gain
- Blurred vision or light sensitivity
- Severe headaches
- Upper abdominal pain
If a pregnant woman has preeclampsia, the condition must be managed until delivery by closely monitoring blood pressure and other symptoms. Extra office visits or a hospital stay may be necessary. In extreme cases, a doctor may decide to deliver a baby early.
Though the condition typically resolves after delivery, this is not always the case. Some women may even develop it after their baby is born. Consequently, prenatal and postnatal care are of critical importance to detect preeclampsia early and to manage it if it is suspected. If a medical provider fails to do this, that is when a preeclampsia attorney in Pennsylvania can step in to help.
Medical Malpractice Claims for Preeclampsia in Pennsylvania
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, nurse, or other health care provider fails to meet the expected standard of care, either because of what they did or failed to do. If unsafe hospital practices and preventable errors led to the injury, sometimes the hospital itself may be sued as well.
In cases involving preeclampsia, untreated disease can progress to severe symptoms, which can include hypertensive emergencies caused by a blood pressure of 160/110 mmHg or higher, decreased kidney or liver function, fluid in the lungs, or low blood platelet levels, which affect the body’s ability to clot. Pregnant women can suffer from seizures and stroke if they are not given immediate medical attention, which in turn causes severe delivery complications.
Whether your medical care team failed to recognize and treat the signs of preeclampsia or you were treated but the care team made a mistake or made decisions that harmed you, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. A Pennsylvania lawyer familiar with preeclampsia cases could review the facts of your medical experience during pregnancy, help you build a strong case with solid evidence, and pursue compensation for the losses you and your newborn suffered due to your health care providers’ negligence.
Get Help From a Pennsylvania Preeclampsia Attorney Today
If you or your child were injured because your medical team failed to recognize or properly treat your preeclampsia, you are likely dealing with a lot of stress and trauma from your experience. You need help from a trustworthy advisor to pursue your legal claims and obtain the damages you deserve.
Before you file a lawsuit, talk to one of our Pennsylvania preeclampsia lawyers at The Weitz Firm, LLC. Our attorneys will listen with compassion and give you advice about how best to move forward. Contact our office today for a free consultation.
