Proper prenatal care is one of the most important aspects of ensuring that a mother gives birth to a healthy baby. Unfortunately, a mother may develop a condition while pregnant that a prenatal healthcare provider fails to diagnose or treat. One dangerous condition that a mother may develop is preeclampsia. When untreated, preeclampsia can cause severe health complications, including death. In such cases, preeclampsia lawyers in New York from Gacovino & Lake can help recover damages.
What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a condition that only occurs during a woman’s pregnancy or the postpartum period; it does not affect a person at any other time. The condition is characterized by extremely high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Preeclampsia usually develops no earlier than after 20 weeks of gestation, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation.
The Risks of Preeclampsia for Mother and Baby
If a woman develops preeclampsia, diligent and thorough prenatal care is required to ensure that she and her child are kept healthy throughout the pregnancy. If proper prenatal care is not administered, preeclampsia can cause a number of dangerous side effects and put both mother and child at risk.
One risk of preeclampsia is that the preeclampsia will cause placental abruption where the placenta is separated from the uterine wall prematurely. This can cause a woman to miscarry, go into early labor or even bleed to death if very severe. Doctors will monitor for signs of severe preeclampsia, according to MedlinePlus, which may include lack of fetal oxygen, abnormal liver function, severe headaches, low urine output, protein in the urine, or other signs of kidney problems.
Preeclampsia Complications and Medical Malpractice
In the state of New York, healthcare providers have the duty to provide their patients with a certain standard of care. If a prenatal care provider failed to diagnose preeclampsia or failed to respond to known preeclampsia appropriately – perhaps by not ordering the baby delivered to cure preeclampsia (the only way to do so) when the situation called for it – then that healthcare provider may have acted negligently. If that negligence resulted in harm to either you or your baby, then the healthcare provider may be liable for any damages your family has incurred.
If you believe that your healthcare provider didn’t provide the proper level of care required to treat preeclampsia and that you or your child suffered as a result, then you can file a medical malpractice claim for damages. A medical malpractice claim will allow you to recover the damages you deserve, like medical expenses, pain and suffering, and future medical care costs.
In New York, the statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice suit for damages is two years and six months from the date of injury, according to New York Civil Practice Laws & Rules, section 214-a.
Speak with our Preeclampsia Lawyers in New York Today
If you or your baby suffered as a result of undiagnosed or untreated preeclampsia, don’t wait any longer to take action. The sooner you call an attorney and file a claim for damages, the sooner you may recover the compensation that you and your family deserve. If you need help understanding medical malpractice law or how to prove negligence or liability, the attorneys at Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C. are here for you.
To schedule a case consultation today, call us now at 800-550-0000. You can also use our online contact form to set up your consultation.
