Birth-related medical malpractice is a serious issue. During birth, women are already at great risk for injury and other problems. When a doctor, nurse, or other medical worker makes a mistake, these risks can greatly be increased. One big risk that pregnant women face is a misdiagnosis of pregnancy-related illnesses. Preeclampsia is one such condition that can be misdiagnosed, resulting in devastating consequences.
If you think you or your baby were the victims of a misdiagnosis or mistreatment of preeclampsia, a preeclampsia malpractice lawyer can help. Keep reading to learn more about this condition and what rights you may have to compensation.
Why Choose Us
We know there are a lot of personal injury law firms out there that can help you with a malpractice case, so you might be wondering why you should choose Wapner Newman. The bottom line is that we get results, and our decades of experience and track records prove it. We provide you with a team of award-winning attorneys who bring a serious commitment to justice to every case.
Few other events in life demand as much precision and knowledge as a legal case. The legal system can be a complex and intimidating thing to attempt to take on alone. If you are not a legal professional, you can quickly get overwhelmed and discouraged. When this happens, many people simply give up their hope of ever finding justice for their case.
The truth is, though, you do not need to fight this alone. Our motto is, “Your fight is our fight.” This means that we will be with you every step of the way to ensure that justice is achieved and that you get everything you deserve.
We know that your injury has had a huge impact on your life. We know how emotional this time can be. You are concerned about what the future holds for you. How will you pick up the pieces and continue your normal life? How will the medical bills get paid? What will happen in the future? You may also be intimidated by the insurance representatives trying to bully you into accepting a settlement that isn’t fair.
How We Can Help
The legal team at Wapner Newman has been helping people just like you win their cases in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. We will fight to give your rights the protection they deserve and provide you with the legal support you need as you navigate your complex personal injury case.
We know that you did not want this fight. All you wanted was to receive the appropriate care during your pregnancy. You wanted a timely diagnosis of preeclampsia and proper treatment. Here you will find a medical malpractice lawyer who will be your advocate every step of the way.
We also know that medical malpractice cases are not just about money. You are concerned about other patients suffering the way you have. Holding medical professionals accountable for their mistakes can significantly decrease the instances of malpractice in the future. This is one of the only ways medical professionals are ever held accountable. When taking on a medical malpractice case with Wapner and Newman, you are not only doing it for yourself but you are doing it for other patients as well.
When you choose us, you are choosing a legal team that has a proven track record. Marc G. Brecher of Wapner and Newman has just recently settled an obstetrical malpractice claim that was filed due to a baby suffering brain damage at birth. The doctor in question failed to make a timely decision within a window of only 25 minutes, but those 25 minutes changed that baby’s life forever. We won this case because doctors and medical professionals must be held to a precise line of accountability, even when it’s just a difference of 25 minutes.
We will approach your case with the care and precision it deserves.
Understanding Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a specific type of medical condition that affects women during pregnancy. It causes high blood pressure during the end of the pregnancy as well as up to six weeks following the birth. In addition to high blood pressure, women will also experience increased levels of protein in their urine. This condition is dangerous for the mother and the baby. It requires treatment quickly to prevent the condition from escalating into eclampsia.
This condition is fairly common among pregnant women, affecting about 8% of mothers. But even though it’s considered common, it is also considered very dangerous. If an OB doctor ignores the signs of this condition, it could put the mother and baby at increased risk. When left untreated, preeclampsia can quickly develop into neurological issues and even result in seizures and death.
Even though only 8% of pregnant women experience preeclampsia, it is a leading cause of maternal death. This condition can also lead to premature birth and has been determined to be a leading cause of death in children under five years old. Babies can also suffer birth injuries from preeclampsia that will ultimately alter their life.
Although there is no cure or effective treatment for preeclampsia, early detection and intervention are essential to protect the mother and baby. In most cases, delivering the baby early is considered the safest route.
Preeclampsia Timeline
Preeclampsia is a unique medical condition in that it only shows up in pregnant women after the 20th week of pregnancy, and more commonly it shows up after the 34th week. The timeline of how preeclampsia develops is very important. The condition significantly changes as time goes on.
If the condition is diagnosed in the 32nd week, it is considered early onset and the morbidity rate increases. This is why it is of the utmost importance that doctors are very watchful for signs and symptoms of this condition throughout the pregnancy following the 20th week.
If you had a doctor who failed to properly diagnose your preeclampsia, you need to speak with a Philadelphia preeclampsia attorney.
Preeclampsia Symptoms
There are a specific set of symptoms that mothers and doctors should be on the watch for. One of the most common signs of preeclampsia is swelling. This can be a difficult symptom to detect because most women swell during pregnancy, even without complications. However, significant swelling of the hands and feet can often indicate preeclampsia. Other symptoms include sudden weight gain, blurry vision, headaches, lower back pain, shoulder pain, and stomach pain.
High blood pressure and protein in the urine are two big indicators that preeclampsia may be developing. Doctors should be conducting regular blood pressure checks and urine screenings throughout the last few weeks of pregnancy.
Preeclampsia and Malpractice
If a doctor fails to properly diagnose preeclampsia early on, they could be held liable for malpractice. It is the doctor’s responsibility to put in place treatments to help control preeclampsia as quickly as possible.
Preeclampsia-related cases are common among birth malpractice lawsuits. Commonly, cases involve:
- Failure to admit a patient to the hospital
- Failure to diagnose the preeclampsia in a timely fashion
- Failure to properly screen for preeclampsia symptoms
- Failure to deliver early enough to prevent preeclampsia complications.
Preeclampsia malpractice cases can often result in compensation for the mother or the surviving family of a mother who passed away due to preeclampsia complications. You will need to contact a preeclampsia malpractice lawyer to find out exactly whether or not you have grounds for a malpractice case.
FAQs Answered by Our Philadelphia Preeclampsia Lawyers
Can I get a settlement for preeclampsia malpractice?
There are a few different factors that will determine whether you can get compensation. The severity of the injuries to the mother or baby is one factor that will be taken into heavy consideration. Another factor will be how reliable the negligence charges are against the doctor. This is where a preeclampsia malpractice lawyer can help.
Can I sue my doctor for malpractice?
Yes, any time a patient feels that they were mistreated or misdiagnosed by a medical professional resulting in a negative impact on their health or life, they have the right to sue. When a doctor fails to diagnose this condition in a timely way, your health and the health of your baby is put in extreme danger.
Can I sue if my preeclampsia was mistreated?
Yes. Even if your doctor diagnosed your preeclampsia in time, they also have the added responsibility of treating it properly. If the condition is mismanaged, it can still result in injury to you or your child. In fact, if the doctor diagnosed the condition and then did not treat it properly, that gives you strong evidence for a malpractice case. This means the doctor was fully aware that you had this life-threatening condition and still failed to treat the condition properly.
What evidence do I need?
You will need to keep very accurate medical records. You may need to get records from the doctor or hospital as well. These records will help a malpractice lawyer piece together your case. This information will help the lawyer to put together a picture of your final weeks of pregnancy so that the court can see how your condition worsened and how your doctor did not properly intervene with appropriate treatment or diagnosis.
What if an insurance company offers me a settlement?
Doctors carry malpractice insurance to protect themselves from liability. This insurance company may reach out to you and offer you a settlement. You should know that an insurance company only has two goals in mind: to settle claims quickly and to do it cheaply. Your best interest is not their priority. You being treated fairly is not their priority. You getting the compensation you deserve is not their priority.
If an insurance company has reached out to you concerning a settlement for a preeclampsia malpractice claim, you should call a malpractice lawyer immediately. These professionals can help make sure you get a fair settlement.
How much of a settlement can I get?
The amount of a settlement is highly dependent on many factors. It is difficult to estimate a settlement. When you sit down to talk with a preeclampsia malpractice lawyer, they will be able to give you more detailed information concerning settlements.
Choose Us as Your Preeclampsia Attorneys
Following a medical-related injury, you might be tempted to think that you can navigate a malpractice case on your own. Sometimes people are tempted to try this because they are afraid they will lose a lot of their settlement in legal fees. The reality is, the chances of you winning on your own are very small. Unless you have a background in legal knowledge, the intricate legal system can be very confusing and overwhelming. There are very precise ways that your case will need to be handled and very intricate investigations that need to be handled.
We have the people, the knowledge, the time, the resources, the tools, and the technology to ensure that every detail is covered in your medical malpractice case. Malpractice cases especially need a professional legal team on hand to collect and evaluate all of the proof that will be needed. Medical professionals have layers of protection to prevent people from suing them for malpractice. This means that when a case is brought against them, the evidence must be extremely convincing and perfectly organized.
If you believe that your preeclampsia was misdiagnosed or improperly treated and that injuries resulted for you or your baby, a preeclampsia lawyer at Wapner Newman can help. Please call us today at (215) 569-0900 for a free consultation.