On behalf of Hastings Law Firm posted in Failure to Diagnose on Monday, January 12, 2015.

When something goes wrong during a pregnancy, it’s not just the woman who suffers. Her unborn child does as well. Many health problems that may arise during pregnancy can result in serious or catastrophic complications in a relatively short period of time, which is why proper prenatal care can be so important for pregnant women in Texas. A missed or delayed diagnosis can ultimately mean the difference between bringing home a healthy child and a devastating tragedy.

Obstetricians are specially trained to provide care to pregnant women, which includes handling more than just routine checks. Any suspect symptoms — such as a drastic increase in blood pressure or unstable blood sugar — should be further investigated with the proper tests and diagnostic tools to ensure that both the mother and unborn child are still progressing fine. Whether the symptoms were self-reported by a patient or noticed by the obstetrician, ignoring them can lead to serious and sometimes fatal complications, such as preeclampsia or uncontrolled gestational diabetes.

The course of a woman’s pregnancy isn’t the only period of time that an OB can completely miss a diagnosis. Accurate and timely monitoring is generally considered to be a must for women in labor, as this provides the most up-to-date and accurate information on both the state of the mother and the child. Ignoring the monitors or misinterpreting can be catastrophic, including devastating birth defects.

A delayed diagnosis can have a tragic impact on a family’s life. In some instances, Texas parents who were expecting to raise a healthy child may suddenly be faced with life-long medical care and expenses for a child who was born with an avoidable defect. While we understand that parents love their children all the same, this unfair burden can unfairly impact the whole family, including other children that a couple may have. Proving negligent care by an obstetrician doesn’t have to be tricky when seeking compensation through a medical malpractice suit, and we have the years of experience and knowledge in this field to make sure that our clients are compensated as fairly as possible.