Cleveland Preeclampsia Attorney
Did Your Doctor Fail to Diagnose & Treat Preeclampsia, Eclampsia, or PIH?
Many pregnant women develop dangerously high blood pressure, a serious but highly treatable condition known as preeclampsia or pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH).
If you or your child were harmed because obstetrical caregivers failed to correctly diagnose or treat preeclampsia, eclampsia, or PIH, contact the Ohio birth injury lawyers at The Becker Law Firm. We have a solid record of holding physicians and hospitals accountable for birth injury, infant death, and maternal death from pregnancy-related negligence.
Call (440) 252-4399 or send a confidential online contact form to schedule your free initial consultation.
Risk Factors for Eclampsia and Preeclampsia
There are several risk factors that should place an obstetrician on notice that an expectant mother may develop preeclampsia.
Those risk factors include:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure) before pregnancy
- Obesity
- Preeclampsia in prior pregnancies
- Women younger than 20 or older than 40
- Pregnancy with more than one baby
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
Additionally, complications of preeclampsia, eclampsia, or HELLP Syndrome can be life-threatening for both the mother and her developing fetus.
- HELLP Syndrome is an acronym that stands for Hemolytic anemia, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelet count. HELLP Syndrome is a severe variation of preeclampsia. The only treatment for HELLP syndrome is delivery of the baby.
- Severe preeclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP Syndrome can result in stroke, brain damage, and even death in both the mother and fetus.
- Eclamptic seizures can result in an abruption or separation of the placenta from the uterus.
- Untreated preeclampsia is a leading cause of premature labor and birth, putting the fetus at serious risk of death or birth defects such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, blindness, or deafness.
Proper maternity care and prenatal monitoring by doctors and nurses should allow early detection and treatment of these potentially life-threatening conditions. A competent obstetrician (OB/GYN) should closely monitor women at high risk of preeclampsia.
Symptoms of Eclampsia and Preeclampsia
Particularly after risk factors have been identified, obstetricians must carefully observe their patients for signs of preeclampsia. High blood pressure, excessive protein in the urine, swelling in the hands and face, headaches, blurred vision, and abdominal pain are all possible indications of preeclampsia.
Eclampsia, a severe form of preeclampsia, is identified by maternal seizures. These seizures can occur at any time—before labor (25%), during labor (50%), or after delivery (25%). Seizures occurring after delivery usually happen within 48 hours, however, they have been detected as long as several weeks after delivery.
Seizures are tonic-clonic, meaning that the woman’s body will tense up as she loses consciousness and then the body will convulse as muscles relax and contract in rapid succession. These types of seizures are often, though not always, preceded by an aura (lightheadedness, dizziness, unusual emotions, sense of foreboding, repetitive movements, for example).
Seizures can be difficult to detect, but when the symptoms are noticed, doctors should consider medication for blood pressure control and seizure control. Magnesium sulfate is often given, which must be carefully monitored. That drug can resolve the seizures but can also depress the central nervous system, cause loss of deep tendon reflexes, respiratory depression, paralysis, coma, or cardiac arrest. Without treatment, the pregnant woman can experience cerebral hemorrhage, aspiration pneumonia, blood clots, or hypoxic encephalopathy.
Delivery can only be considered after the seizure has ended. During a seizure, a baby’s heart rate may show dangerous decelerations, which obstetricians should treat by providing extra oxygenation to the baby. If those decelerations do not resolve, an emergency cesarean section is required.
Contact the The Becker Law Firm at (440) 252-4399 for a free consultation.
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$15.9 Million Birth Injury
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$13.5 Million Birth Injury
Becker Law Firm attorneys Michael Becker and David Skall obtained a jury verdict for $13.5 million in Akron, Ohio. The case involved a now 16- year-old boy who suffered a brain injury at the time of birth (specifically a watershed injury). The doctor held liable for causing the boy’s injury is Laura Fortner, M.D., previously of Atrium OB/GYN, Inc.
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$8.7 Million Birth Trauma
Failure to Appropriately Manage Preeclampsia Resulting in Brain Damage
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$4.5 Million Birth Injury
Failure to Carefully Ligate Umbilical Cord, Resulting In Severing Child’s Great Toe, Major Fluctuation In Child’s Blood Pressure And Subsequent Brain Damage (Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Delays)
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$4.25 Million Birth Injury
Failure of Obsterical Caregivers to Recognize Maternal Hemorrhage Resulting in Brain Damage
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Your unwavering dedication and expert guidance have truly been a lifesaver. Your sharp legal mind and compassionate heart have made all the difference. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being there for us every step of the way. We are forever grateful Words cannot express our gratitude for everything you have done for us. Your outstanding professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to justice have been nothing short of remarkable. You have given us back our confidence and hope during a difficult time. Thank you for being our champions. Thank you so much.
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"Mike represented us as if he was fighting for his own family member. I knew that my son was getting the best representation in Northeast Ohio."It was an honor having such an experienced lawyer handle my son's cerebral palsy case. He represented us as if he was fighting for his own family member. Everyone at the firm made us feel comfortable about our case. I knew that my son was getting the best representation in Northeast Ohio. The Becker Law Firm is dedicated to bringing justice to their clients. I've already referred families that I know!- Knyesha Washington
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"David worked our case with professionalism and patience in an amazing way that ultimately led to a positive outcome."Right from the very beginning of our case, David Skall and his assistant Jean Witt were both extremely kind and compassionate to help us put closure on a wrongful death case involving my father at a care facility. They were quick to answer any questions that we had and they made sure we were kept in the loop of this entire process. even though we were in the middle of a pandemic, David and his team were able to adapt their technology and make it all work out for our benefit. I would strongly recommend them to anyone in need of legal help.- John Z.
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Injuries Caused by Eclampsia and Preeclampsia
When preeclampsia and eclampsia are present, there are numerous risks. The risks to the baby include premature delivery injuries, placental abruption, and wrongful death. The risks to the mother, particularly with eclampsia, include seizures, organ damage, and death. These severe consequences require obstetricians to carefully monitor the mother’s health to identify and treat preeclampsia and eclampsia.
If you had hypertension, preeclampsia or eclampsia during pregnancy, and you or your baby was injured, contact our Ohio preeclampsia and eclampsia lawyers at (440) 252-4399 or online for a free consultation.
