Ectopic Pregnancy Negligence Claims

• A missed or late period.
• Vaginal bleeding.
• Low tummy pain on one side.
• Shoulder tip pain.
• Discomfort when going to the toilet.
• Feeling light-headed, or fainting.

Symptoms tend to show in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Initial signs may be similar to those of a womb pregnancy, such as breast tenderness and cramps. There are times when an ectopic pregnancy is only picked up at the initial 12-week dating scan.

As some of these symptoms can be vague, once a patient has had a positive pregnancy test, other assessments can be carried out which include:

• An ultrasound scan: An ectopic pregnancy is often diagnosed by a clinician carrying out a trans-vaginal ultrasound scan; this will produce an image that can indicate whether the fertilised egg has been implanted somewhere other than in the womb.
• Blood tests: If a pregnancy cannot be seen blood will be taken to measure a pregnancy hormone. This will help doctors decide if a repeat ultrasound scan is needed to identify the location of the pregnancy.
• Surgery: It is sometimes necessary for the patient to have exploratory keyhole surgery.

Many ectopic pregnancies will end naturally and there will be no need for an operation or a drug to treat the condition.

• ‘Expectant Management’: This is monitoring by medical professionals instead of immediate treatment.
• Medical treatment: The drug methotrexate stops a pregnancy developing further and the fertilized egg is gradually reabsorbed by the body leaving the Fallopian tube intact. Methotrexate is most effective in the earlier stages of pregnancy. The treatment is given by an injection and requires careful monitoring and follow-up.
• Surgical Treatment: The most established form of treatment is an operation using ‘keyhole surgery’.

As one of the UK’s leading medical negligence compensation claims teams, our solicitors have decades of experience in succeeding in even the most complex of cases. We understand you’ll want to know why things went wrong and how things will change, and will work to secure you the compensation you need to make the best recovery possible.

The amount you can expect to receive in medical negligence compensation depends on your specific case details. Factors affecting your compensation can include the impact the negligence has on your day-to-day health, your ability to get pregnant in the future and your future health, your ability to work and any long-term care that you may require including fertility treatment.

Compensation damages may be awarded for:

• Pain and suffering caused.
• Loss of earnings and future loss of earnings (such as being at a disadvantage in the labour market/loss of employability and reduction in potential earnings.).
• Cost of surgery or medical procedures required after the negligence.
• Costs of current or future care.
• Travel expenses for medical appointments or equipment.

There is no set answer, however, our team are dedicated to securing interim compensation payments wherever possible, helping people overcome financial worries and cover the cost of much-needed treatment and rehabilitation.

If aged 18 and over, you will typically have three years from the date that the negligence occurred or from the date that you became aware of negligent treatment.

For under-18s, there is no time limit. However, once a child reaches 18, the standard 3-year claim period comes into effect.

Medical negligence claims rarely need to go to court, and usually only do so in very complex cases.