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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Health Care: UK > Medical Malpractice > Misdiagnoses of Ectopic Pregnancy
Expert: Edward A. Smith - 10/25/2009
Question
I got pregnant late August of this year. From the first week I thought I was pregnant, I was bleeding, and the bleeding continued for 3 weeks. It went from spotting to heavy period blood. Well, early on, I called the clinic and told them I was pregnant. They scheduled an ultrasound for Oct. 15. They wanted me to get a blood test sometime before then to confirm being pregnant. Well, in the meantime, my bleeding really concerned me, so I called often with concern, & the nurses weren't all that worried. They said not to worry unless I bleed through a pad an hour, which luckily I never did. They got a little worried finally and ordered lab blood tests to watch hcg levels, and after the 2nd test, my #s went down, so over the phone they said they thought I was miscarrying and did not need me to see them for an ultrasound b/c they'd watch the hcg levels and once they got to 0, I could wait for a period and try again. So, I was diagnosed with a miscarriage over the phone by I think only a nurse (maybe they at least consulated a doctor there, I don't know). I know at that point, based on my LMP, I was at least 5 weeks, enough for them to check with ultrasound.
So a week later I have the worst shooting pain in my rectum that goes straight to my belly and hurts the most on my right side. It's night time, so I call and on call doctor who says if it continues to the a.m. to go to the doctor, because she thinks since the doctor's office said I am miscarrying, I am only passing tissue. Keep in mind, that I give her all the symptoms, and she doesn't tell me to go to the ER. That same day I have hcg levels drawn and got the results the next day and am told to go straight to the ultrasound department b/c my levels skyrocketed b/c it's either ectopic or the pregnancy decided to stick. Long story short, I am diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy and told the pain the night before was when my right tube ruptured and had it not been for my uterus holding the blood there and not letting me bleed to death, I would not have woken up that morning. So an inch from my right tube was taken out. Because the on call doctor ignored the classic symtoms of an ectopic (pain in rectum and belly) and the nurses blaming the bleeding on implantation bleeding and irritation from having sex or some other theory and me losing a tube, I wondered if I have a case. I feel like, now I lost a tube, which lessens my chance to concieve, & if they had gotten me in a week earlier, and seen where the embryo was, I could have had my tube saved, I mean I WAS bleeding! I not only have only one tube, I have $7500 in medical bills, which I feel should have been prevented. I realize that in the end I lived, but I think the surgery could have been prevented if they'd actually listened to my symptoms and had me come in for an ultrasound even a week before the rupture so they could have seen where the embryo was and injected me with methotrexate. It's an anti-cancer drug that has a good chance of killing the tissue and saving the tube. A week before surgery I would have been at 5 weeks so they would have been able to see the embryo by then.
thanks for your time!
Answer
There appears to me to be a high chance of malpractice here..but the real question is whether or not the malpractice is serious enough that an attorney can afford to take it.
Typically malpractice cases are very difficult and it can cost over 100K in costs just to get to the courtroom so attorney's can only take the most serious cases.
Nonetheless, your chances of having children may be lessened and this may be a case an attorney would take.
You should consult an experienced malpractice lawyer in your city right away on this. Be aware that the time limits for filing suit are verey short in every state so do not delay. If you miss the time limit you will have no case.
Good Luck,
Ed Smith
Law Offices of Ed Smith
Sacramento, Ca
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