Placental Abruption Related Medical Malpractice

Complications during pregnancy may pose danger to the life of both the mother and the child.

One such complication that affects a number of pregnancies is placental abruption, which means separation of placenta from the wall of uterus. Placenta links the baby to the mother, and acts as a carrier of nutrients, oxygen, and waste material.

According to available statistics, placental abruption happens in about 9 of every 1,000 pregnancies. It may have serious, and in severe cases, life threatening implications for both mother and child. So, doctors need to carefully watch out for any symptoms that may indicate placental abruption. Some common symptoms of placental abruption are:

• Abdominal pain
• Vaginal bleeding
• Back pain
• Uterine tenderness
• Signs of early labor
• Frequent contractions
• Fetal heart rate abnormalities

The patients who complain of the aforementioned symptoms should generally go through medical exams such as ultrasound, pelvic exam, fetal monitoring, or blood tests.

Causes

There could be several causes of placental abruption. Some of them are:

• High blood pressure
• Drug abuse
• Cigarette smoking
• Diabetes
• Blood clotting disorders
• History of Placental Abruptions
• About 40 years of age
• Multiple pregnancy
• Blood clotting disorders

Placental abruption requires immediate medical attention, because excessive blood loss may put the life of mother and child in grave danger. The doctor may have to conduct a Caesarean section or a vaginal delivery in case the fetus is adequately grown and the doctor finds the mother fit for a normal delivery.

Medical Errors

Doctors generally cannot prevent placental abruption, but they can diagnose and administer treatment in a timely manner. However, there have been cases where the mother or child or both have had to suffer because of doctor’s negligence. Some medical errors that can pose threat to a mother or child’s life in cases of placental abruption are as follows:

• The doctor failed to diagnose placental abruption in a timely manner, and this led to aggravation of the problem
• The doctor failed to provide appropriate treatment for placental abruption in a timely manner
• The doctor made a mistake in administering treatment for placental abruption, which resulted in severe blood loss, caused difficulty in blood clotting, and oxygen and nutrients deprivation.
• The doctor failed to closely monitor the patient who reported symptoms such as back and abdominal pain, uterine contractions, vaginal bleeding, or tenderness, which indicate placental abruption.

St. Louis Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Placental abruption related medical malpractice is not uncommon. Every year many cases of such medical negligence are reported, and patients or their survivors claim compensation for their suffering.

If you or someone close to you has suffered from placental abruption and her doctor failed to diagnose or treat the condition in a timely manner, consult with a St. Louis medical malpractice lawyer at the Zevan and Davidson Law Firm to discuss your legal options and claim damages.

Call us at (314) 588-7200 or fill out our Online Contact Form to get in touch with an attorney.

photo credit | Flickr user: TipsTimesAdmin