How Can Injuries From Placenta Previa be Due to Medical Malpractice?

While most women have healthy pregnancies, there are certain conditions that a mother can develop during the prenatal period which can pose a serious risk to both mother and baby. This is why pregnant women are supposed to be followed closely during their pregnancies with the appropriate testing conducted in order to both diagnose and treat these conditions. Conditions that can pose risks to mother, baby, or both include pre-eclampsia, placental insufficiency, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), umbilical cord compression, and placenta previa as well as many other conditions. Placenta previa is a very serious complication during pregnancy that requires very close monitoring and often alternative delivery arrangements such as a c-section.

 

If you or a loved one suffered from placenta previa, or even if you were diagnosed with placenta previa and are unsure if you or your baby were harmed, call our experienced birth injury lawyers in Bend, OR for help with your case.  Our Oregon medical malpractice lawyer can help you and your family handle these difficult types of cases to ensure your rights to compensation are well protected.

 

What is Placenta Previa?

 

Placenta previa occurs when the placenta implants in the lower part of the uterus, either completely or partially covering the opening of the mother’s cervix. This is an abnormal implantation, as it should attach anywhere but the lower part of the uterus. The reason why this is dangerous is as the cervix begins to efface (thin) and dilate (open), the blood vessels that connect the placenta to the uterus may tear, leading to serious bleeding. 

 

The types of placenta previa include the following:

 

Complete previa – In this case, the placenta completely covers the cervix

 

Marginal – Women with marginal placenta previa have a placenta that is on the border of the cervix, but does not entirely cover the cervix

 

How is Placenta Previa Diagnosed?

 

Placenta previa must be diagnosed via ultrasound. Sometimes, both an abdominal ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound are required for diagnosis. However, women may experience symptoms of placenta previa such as bleeding, which should in turn lead a physician or other healthcare provider to conducting appropriate diagnostic testing such as an ultrasound to rule out conditions like placenta previa. It is not uncommon for a woman to have placenta previa very early in her pregnancy, but it is not a concern until the pregnancy is further along, such as 16-20 weeks. Often times, early in pregnancy placenta previa can correct itself as the placenta can migrate.  

 

Complications of Placenta Previa

 

There are many risks of placenta previa which can put both the mother and baby in danger. As mentioned above, bleeding is a very serious risk of placenta previa, which is why mothers must be monitored closely and often will have to undergo a c-section. Additionally, there is a risk of preterm birth if the mother begins to experience bleeding. Women with placenta previa are also at greater risk for placenta accreta, which occurs when the placenta is unable to or has difficulty detaching from the uterine wall, raising the risk of severe bleeding when the placenta is removed.

This may require the mother to receive blood transfusions as well as a potential hysterectomy. Placental abruption is another potential complication that can occur. Placental abruption refers to a separation of the placental lining from the uterus prior to the birth of the baby. This can lead to oxygen deprivation of the fetus, leading to a potential brain injury such as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, or even death. Other potential complications of placenta previa include maternal or fetal death is placenta previa is not treated correctly. 

 

What is the Treatment for Placenta Previa?

 

Placenta previa requires very close monitoring. If the woman with placenta previa experiences any bleeding, they may require hospitalization or even delivery of the baby. Some women with placenta previa require bed rest, and mothers are often given steroid injections to help mature the baby’s lungs in the event that pre-term delivery is necessary. The ultimate course of delivery for most women with placenta previa is a cesarean section (c-section). C-sections are either scheduled, or they may be emergent if bleeding or other issues are present, necessitating delivery. 

 

How are Complications of Placenta Previa Sometimes Due to Medical Malpractice?

 

Sometimes, complications can occur as a result of placenta previa and it is not necessarily a result of medical malpractice. Medical malpractice refers to a deviation in the standard of care. This is why, if you or your loved one suffered complications of placenta previa, it is a good idea to contact an experienced placenta previa medical malpractice lawyer who can review your case to determine if medical malpractice caused your injuries. Our lawyers and their experts are familiar with the standards of care for the treatment and management of placenta previa, and will be able to determine based on your case and injuries if there was a deviation in the standard of care that lead to your injuries. 

 

Common examples of placenta previa medical malpractice include the following: 

 

• Performing a pelvic exam on a woman with known placenta previa, leading to serious bleeding or preterm labor and delivery 
• Failing to educate a woman with placenta previa of restrictions that she must adhere to (i.e. no sexual intercourse, no strenuous exercise, no travel, etc.)
• Failing to diagnose placenta previa on ultrasound
• Performing a vaginal delivery on a woman with known placenta prevue
• Failure to perform an emergency c-section, leading to serious harm
• Failure to perform proper monitoring for a woman with placenta previa
• Failure to properly monitor a baby during labor and delivery, or during any emergencies surrounding placenta previa (i.e. serious bleeding), leading to hypoxia or even fetal death
• Failure to perform a scheduled c-section when a vaginal delivery is not indicated
• Harm of the newborn (i.e. hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, seizures, etc.) as a result of improper monitoring and treatment of a mother with placenta previa
• Failure to prescribe bed rest for a woman who has placenta previa and is at great risk for bleeding
• Failure to handle complications of placenta previa, such as placenta accreta or placental abruption

 

Ask Our Birth Injury Lawyer in Bend, OR for Placenta Previa Injuries in Oregon

 

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.

 

Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton,  Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles,  St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.

 

We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.