Expecting mothers frequently experience complications within their pregnancies, labor, and delivery. But when these complications occur due to the recklessness or irresponsible conduct of their healthcare providers, they may have the opportunity to hold their healthcare providers accountable by pursuing a birth injury claim.
One of the most common conditions that pregnant women experience during pregnancy is pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). If your healthcare provider failed to notice the signs of PIH, failed to treat them, or otherwise failed to uphold their medical duty of care, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Read on to learn more about what PIH is and when you could file a medical malpractice lawsuit after being diagnosed with this medical condition. For further questions, contact our team at Wilt and Thompson, PLLC.
Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension
Also commonly referred to as gestational hypertension, PIH occurs in less than 10 percent of all pregnancies in the U.S. There three main types of PIH: chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia.
Chronic hypertension can occur before, during, and after pregnancy. Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia will develop after week twenty of pregnancy. Any type of high blood pressure in pregnancy can be dangerous and life-threatening for both the mother and her baby. PIH is characterized by high blood pressure, or blood pressure readings higher than 140/90 mmHg.
The difference between pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia is that preeclampsia symptoms include both high blood pressure and proteinuria (protein in the urine). PIH is not characterized by proteinuria.
Both can cause maternal seizure or stroke, fetal and maternal death, placental abruption, and have an impact on the growth of the baby. Low birth weight and premature delivery are also risks of gestational hypertension. Other symptoms of PIH might include dizziness, persistent headaches, blurred vision or vision loss, and abdominal pain.
When to Sue for PIH
Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in only appropriate in cases where healthcare providers have failed to uphold their medical standard of care. This may include a variety of mistakes, but failure to diagnose PIH, failure to treat, misdiagnosis, and other medical errors could be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
If the healthcare provider in question diagnosed you correctly but was unprepared to treat the gestational hypertension, a lawsuit may also be well-advised, depending on the circumstances of your case.
Furthermore, if your healthcare provider did not have the training or skills necessary to diagnose and treat PIH, pursuing a lawsuit may also be appropriate. You must carefully discuss the details of your case with your lawyer to see what legal options may be available to you, if any.
Speak with a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Louisville
If you or your newborn suffered a serious birth injury due to PIH and you are interested in discussing your legal options for financial recovery, schedule a free consultation with an experienced Louisville medical malpractice lawyer at Wilt and Thompson, PLLC. When you are ready to get started on your case, visit our website or give us a call at 502-253-9110.