Preeclampsia Left Untreated Can Cause a Florida Birth Brain Injury

When an expectant mother complains of excessive weight gain, severe swelling, headaches, and abnormal reflexes, it should be taken seriously and not brushed off by a healthcare staff member, including a nurse, resident, or doctor.

Because these symptoms are signs of preeclampsia, a pregnant woman should be tested for blood pressure and signs of protein in her urine when complaining about any one of these symptoms.

Sadly, hospital staff members are overworked and understaffed and sometimes brush these complaints off. Nurses or first-year residents may take a pregnant woman’s blood pressure and think that it seems normal, so they discharge her without further looking into any of her other complaints.

This is why hospitals and health care workers often find themselves on the losing end of a Florida medical malpractice claim.

Failure to diagnose or treat preeclampsia can cause the death of a mother and/or baby or the miscarriage of the baby. If the mother and child do not die, or the baby isn’t miscarried, the reality is the child will most likely be born with a South Florida birth brain injury.

When a baby is delivered before term due to birth injury preeclampsia, there may be brain development complications, and the baby may have a greater risk for developing lifelong health issues. Cerebral palsy may be one such complication that arises from failure to diagnose preeclampsia.

If you feel like your doctor did not provide the best possible care to you during your pregnancy, and you or your child suffered as a result of their medical malpractice, you deserve to seek justice. Please call a skilled Fort Lauderdale birth injury lawyer at Chalik & Chalik at (888) 539-5297 to receive a free, no-obligation discussion of your case.