Key Takeaways
- An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, often in the fallopian tube, posing serious health risks if undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
- Early symptoms may mimic a normal pregnancy, but severe abdominal pain, spotting, and dizziness can signal ectopic pregnancy complications requiring urgent medical care.
- Diagnosis involves pelvic exams, blood tests measuring hCG levels, and ultrasounds; failure to perform these can lead to dangerous delays and malpractice claims.
- Treatment typically includes medication or laparoscopic surgery; delayed diagnosis may cause severe injuries like a burst fallopian tube and impact future fertility.
- Victims of ectopic pregnancy misdiagnosis may pursue compensation for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and wrongful death claims if applicable.
Have you been diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy? Ectopic pregnancies occur when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, typically in the fallopian tube. They can be hazardous to pregnant women and should be terminated before the health risks to the mother become too significant.
If your ectopic pregnancy was misdiagnosed and you suffered complications, such as a burst fallopian tube, it could be due to medical negligence. Ectopic pregnancy misdiagnosis by a medical professional may constitute medical malpractice, giving you grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit or pursue a medical malpractice ectopic pregnancy settlement. Some risk factors for ectopic pregnancies, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, can complicate diagnosis, but failing to properly diagnose ectopic pregnancy can lead to severe harm.
You can count on Wagner Reese, LLP’s medical malpractice lawyers to evaluate your case and determine if you should sue for negligence. Our attorneys are known for securing favorable outcomes in medical malpractice cases, including significant settlements and jury verdicts. Many of our attorneys have been recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America© by Best Lawyers® in 2022 and 2024, demonstrating our commitment to fighting for justice and obtaining the compensation you deserve.
What Is an Ectopic Pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus at the beginning of pregnancy. If a woman has an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, the embryo could cause the fallopian tube to burst, leading to ectopic pregnancy negligence if a medical professional fails to provide timely diagnosis and care. This is a medical emergency that, without immediate treatment, can result in significant hemorrhaging, serious injury, and possibly death.
There are several risk factors for ectopic pregnancies, including pelvic infections, prior surgeries, and conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease, which can increase the chances of ectopic pregnancy misdiagnosis. At the start of an ectopic pregnancy, most women have similar symptoms as a regular pregnancy, making it easier for medical negligence to occur. You may miss a menstruation cycle, have tender breasts, and experience nausea and fatigue. If a diagnosis is delayed, patients may have grounds to file ectopic pregnancy claims for the harm caused due to the lack of proper medical intervention.
But as the ectopic pregnancy progresses, some symptoms differ from a normal pregnancy:
- Severe abdominal or pelvic pain that worsens with movement
- Severe pelvic cramping, usually on one side
- Spotting
- Moderate or severe vaginal bleeding
- Low blood pressure
- Pain in the lower back
- Faintness
- Extreme dizziness
If you’re pregnant and have these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor immediately. An ectopic pregnancy can have serious complications that could lead to death.
How Ectopic Pregnancies Are Diagnosed
A urine test can show that a woman is pregnant, but that will not reveal if it is ectopic. To determine if it’s an ectopic pregnancy, the doctor may do the following:
- Perform an examination of your abdominal and pelvic areas. Your physician will check you for possible tenderness and growths in these regions.
- Do a blood test to see if you have low pregnancy hormone levels. HCG is the pregnancy hormone that usually doubles during a routine pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, HCG levels stay low.
- Perform an ultrasound of your abdominal and pelvic regions.
If your doctor doesn’t perform these steps, they could miss the ectopic pregnancy.
How Ectopic Pregnancies Are Treated
After being diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, the medical provider should act fast to prevent harm. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg develops outside the uterus, typically in the fallopian tube, also known as a tubal pregnancy. Failure to diagnose this condition promptly can result in severe complications, including the need for invasive surgery.
To confirm the diagnosis, health care providers should perform appropriate tests, such as a pregnancy test that measures human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels and an ultrasound to rule out an intrauterine pregnancy. If the failure to diagnose ectopic pregnancy occurs despite the presence of certain risk factors like prior tubal ligation, pelvic infections, or scarring, the patient may suffer serious complications, including abdominal pain, internal bleeding, and emotional distress.
Treatment typically involves either medication or laparoscopic surgery to remove the embryo and preserve the mother’s health. If caught during early pregnancy, a doctor may prescribe methotrexate to end the pregnancy without surgery. However, failure to diagnose in time may require more invasive procedures and lead to life-altering consequences.
If the ectopic pregnancy has gone past the first several weeks, you may need a laparoscopy to terminate the pregnancy. This procedure involves making a small incision in your belly button so they can remove the embryo from your fallopian tube.
A misdiagnosed ectopic pregnancy could result in harm or even death in the mother. Some women lose the ability to become pregnant and may have other physical injuries, such as a burst fallopian tube and heavy bleeding. Plus, the mother may suffer immense mental and emotional trauma from the ordeal, especially if they can no longer get pregnant.
Potential Damages For a Misdiagnosed Ectopic Pregnancy
The fallopian tubes and other parts of the woman’s reproductive system are not made to handle the growth of the fertilized egg. If a misdiagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy injures you, you could be entitled to compensation for:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and loss of future income
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
If your loved one died from a missed ectopic pregnancy diagnosis, our attorneys may assist you with filing a wrongful death claim against the doctor or hospital.
Speak to Our Indianapolis Birth Injury Attorneys Today
For over two decades, Wagner Reese has assisted injured clients and families with birth injury claims throughout Indiana. Our Indianapolis birth injury attorneys have more than 150 years of combined personal injury claim experience and have an outstanding reputation for achieving fair settlements and favorable jury verdicts.
If you were injured because of a misdiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, our attorneys can help you pursue compensation. To set an appointment, call (888) 204-8440 for legal help.
