Philadelphia Preeclampsia Lawyer
Preeclampsia is a life threatening condition in which a pregnant woman’s placenta causes high blood pressure and organ damage, if left untreated. It can have devastating effects on both the mother and the baby, which is why it is vital that doctors properly diagnose preeclampsia early on. Early intervention is key to keeping the mother and child safe before, and after, delivery. Tragically, not all cases of preeclampsia are diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. If your doctor failed to diagnose or successfully treat preeclampsia, you may be entitled to compensation, as all medical providers are required to perform a certain standard of care. Our Philadelphia preeclampsia lawyer at The Villari Firm, PLLC is an expert in failure to treat/diagnose preeclampsia, and other pregnancy and childbirth mistakes made by medical professionals.
What is Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and high levels of protein in the urine, which indicate that kidney damage is taking place. Preeclampsia is a dangerous condition that pregnant women experience about 20 weeks after conceiving. This medical condition requires immediate hospitalization and treatment, because preeclampsia can lead to organ damage and even death of both the mother and baby. With careful monitoring and medication, preeclampsia can often be treated successfully without harming the mother or child. The mother is usually given antihypertensive medication to treat high blood pressure, while the fetus is given corticosteroids to induce lung growth, as even non severe cases of preeclampsia require early delivery. If the preeclampsia is severe, a doctor will usually induce labor before 37 weeks.
How is Preeclampsia Caused?
Preeclampsia is not fully understood at this time, but it is believed to start at the placenta, which is an organ that provides the fetus oxygen and nutrition. Some women’s bodies do not properly develop the blood vessels of the placenta, which causes an irregularity of blood pressure and a cascading effect of complications, such as organ damage.
What Type of Compensation Am I Owed?
The type and degree of compensation you may be entitled to depends on the type and severity of the damages you suffered. Preeclampsia can have devastating effects on the health of the mother and the child. In tragic cases, it can lead to death. While there is no way to provide even a quick estimate on what your case is worth, plaintiffs in a medical malpractice claim may expect to receive the following types of compensation:
- Hospital bills
- Future cost of medical care
- Future cost of care for a child with disabilities caused by preeclampsia
- Pain and suffering for both the mother and the child
- Loss of joy of life
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium if a death occurred
Contact a Philadelphia Preeclampsia Lawyer Today
Preeclampsia is one of those dangerous medical conditions that modern medicine, in most cases, can thankfully resolve without injury to the mother or the child. If you or a loved one were harmed by a doctor’s negligent actions in failing to diagnose or treat preeclampsia, call our Philadelphia preeclampsia lawyers at The Villari Firm today at 215-372-8889 to schedule a free consultation.
