Failure to Diagnose Ectopic Pregnancy Leads to Complications

Medical Malpractice Settlement for Several Hundred Thousand Dollars

Our client, seven weeks pregnant, presented to the emergency department with a sudden onset of severe pain which radiated to her hips and around her torso. She was also experiencing pain around her left shoulder blade and shortness of breath.

Although our client’s symptoms were consistent with an ectopic pregnancy — a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo attaches outside the uterus — the doctor in question did not perform a pelvic examination to confirm a viable pregnancy nor did he order any tests. The doctor in question instead diagnosed our client with musculoskeletal pain and discharged her.

Eleven days later, our client awoke with severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dizziness. She was taken to the emergency department via ambulance and was diagnosed with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, meaning her fallopian tube had burst. Doctors performed emergency surgery on our client and she also received 11 units of blood to compensate for the massive blood loss she sustained as a result of the ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

Our lawyers argued that had the ectopic pregnancy been diagnosed at our client’s first emergency room visit, conservative medical therapy could have been undertaken potentially eliminating the need for surgery and preventing the ruptured fallopian tube. Our client also suffered a decrease in fertility and an increased risk for future pregnancy complications. Rosen & Perry settled this case for several hundred thousand dollars.