Did the Doctor Miss Telltale Signs of Ectopic Pregnancy?
In a normal pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants in the wall of the uterus. Sometimes the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus. When that occurs, it is known as an ectopic pregnancy. Most ectopic pregnancies involve a situation in which the egg implants in the Fallopian tube before it reaches the uterus. An undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy (also called tubal pregnancy) will usually lead to a rupture of the Fallopian tube. Most women can still get pregnant via the other Fallopian tube, but if a woman has already lost a Fallopian tube due to a prior ectopic pregnancy, she can no longer have children via sexual intercourse. I established case law in an ectopic pregnancy malpractice case 15 years ago. A jury award of $500,000 for pain and suffering and $400,000 for the woman’s loss of chance to bear children was struck down. On appeal, damages were reinstated to $700,000, validating infertility and its emotional impact as compensable claims. Early symptoms of ectopic implantation a
