Ectopic Pregnancy Misdiagnosis – Making a Claim

What is an Ectopic pregnancy and how common are they?

An ectopic pregnancy is where a fertilised egg will attach itself incorrectly. This can be in the fallopian tube, in the abdominal cavity, or even in the cervix. For a pregnancy to be successful, a fertilized egg must travel down the fallopian tube to the uterus. The uterus is the only place a successful pregnancy can occur.

Left untreated, it can lead to serious medical complications such as internal bleeding and can be life-threatening.

According to the NHS, 1 in 90 pregnancies are ectopic. Due to the fact the condition can be so dangerous, the pregnancy will be ended in all cases.

In addition, there is no way to completely prevent an ectopic pregnancy

What could be mistaken for ectopic pregnancy

The early stages of an ectopic pregnancy could be mistaken for:

• A urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Appendicitis
• Ovarian Cyst
• Miscarriage
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

The symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are, for the most part, nonspecific to the condition. For example, the symptoms can include missed periods, vaginal bleeding, discomfort when urinating or general pain in the lower abdomen.

Because of these symptoms, it is possible that the early signs of an ectopic pregnancy can be missed or mistaken for another condition.

Dangers of a misdiagnosed ectopic pregnancy

If left untreated, an ectopic pregnancy can begin to develop and grow in the location it has incorrectly attached to. This could lead to internal bleeding and ruptures, such as in the fallopian tubes.

If this is not treated, it can be life-threatening. Whilst deaths from ruptures are rare, being left untreated could lead to serious injury and could be grounds to make a claim for compensation.

Can you claim for misdiagnosis of ectopic pregnancy?

To establish if the misdiagnosis of the ectopic pregnancy has arisen due to negligence, your best course of action is to contact a medical negligence solicitor.

If it can be proven that the warning signs of ectopic pregnancy have been missed by medical professionals, and you have suffered harm as a result, you may be able to make a claim.

If your claim is successful, it will ensure that you will be properly compensated for the pain and suffering caused, as well as any future costs such as private medical care or loss of earnings.

Making a claim with Blackwater law

At Blackwater Law, we take all of our cases on a No-Win, No-Fee basis meaning you will take on no financial burden. We are recognised as a leading firm in the Legal 500, a directory of the country’s top law firms. Our experience in misdiagnosis cases and being birth injury specialists means you can be sure we will get the best possible outcome for your case.

Our initial advice is free, so contact our team today to discuss your case.