Preeclampsia is a serious condition that can arise during a pregnancy. Expectant mothers in Texas and elsewhere who have it could experience a seizure, a stroke or even death. The baby could also be injured if his or her mother has preeclampsia. While there is no cure, there are ways to determine if a pregnant woman has this condition as well as ways to monitor it throughout the pregnancy.
One sign that a woman has preeclampsia is two blood pressure readings of more than 140/90 taken at least four hours apart. If such readings are taken, a doctor may want to perform blood, urine or other tests to obtain more evidence that a person has this condition. Those who are older than 40 or pregnant for the first time may be more likely to experience preeclampsia. Other risk factors include having more than one baby at a time or obesity.
The type of legal action that a person may take in the event that there are complications due to a doctor not diagnosing preeclampsia may vary. For instance, if the mother or baby dies, it could be grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. If the baby or mother is injured, it could set the stage for a negligence or malpractice lawsuit. Those who wish to take legal action may benefit from consulting with an attorney.
An attorney may review a person’s medical records to determine if a medical professional should have caught the signs of preeclampsia sooner. Other parties could be liable in a birth injuries lawsuit such as the hospital where the doctor made the error. If a claim is successful, an injured mother may win compensation for medical bills and punitive damages on behalf of herself and on behalf of the injured child.
