Failure to Diagnose Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a woman’s fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tube rather than in the uterus and begins to grow. Since there is no space inside of the narrow tube for the embryo to develop, this condition could lead to a rupture of the fallopian tube, which can lead to catastrophic internal bleeding and death if not promptly treated.

In order to identify an ectopic pregnancy, doctors usually order a blood test to check for the presence of hCG, the pregnancy hormone. They will also conduct an ultrasound to look for swelling of the fallopian tube or to see if they can detect an embryo in the uterus. Doctors who fail to order the appropriate imaging, conduct a proper physical examination and ask the right questions to ascertain symptoms can end up misdiagnosing to a less serious condition or failing to give a diagnosis altogether. Either way, this can result in a delay in getting the patient the care they need to treat their condition and prevent serious harm.

If the patient’s fallopian tube ruptures because they did not receive timely care, they could need invasive surgery to mitigate the damage. Even if surgery is successful, the patient may be left infertile or at risk for another ectopic pregnancy in the future. The emotional damage, in addition to the physical damage, can be an enormous psychological burden.

If you are experiencing these symptoms of ectopic pregnancy, seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY:

• No periods
• Mild cramping on one side of the pelvis
• Lower back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Extreme lightheadedness or fainting
• Severe abdominal or pelvic pain

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Tampa, FL

If you or someone you know has suffered preventable harm due to a missed or delayed diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, you may have a viable medical malpractice case. We encourage you to get in touch with a Tampa medical malpractice attorney at The Florida Law Group to learn more about your rights and legal options. With more than a century of combined legal experience and numerous million-dollar results, you can trust that our team has what it takes to fight for the highest verdicts and settlements possible. We work hard to ensure that justice is served by holding negligent medical providers responsible for the harm that they have caused.