Memphis Birth Injury Attorney

What is Pregnancy Induced Hypertension?

Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is the medical condition of having high blood pressure during pregnancy.   In addition to high blood pressure, women with PIH may also experience edema (swelling) or protein in their urine.  Eclampsia is a much more serious side effect of PIH that affects one in every 1,600 pregnancies.  Due to this condition, women with eclampsia suffer from seizures.

While the cause of pregnancy induced hypertension is still unknown, there are signs a doctor or nurse can look for to determine if a woman has PIH.  When a doctor or nurse fails to diagnose PIH, it can lead to serious health complications for both the mother and the child.  High blood pressure hinders the flow of blood to organs in the mother’s body, such as the liver, kidney, brain, uterus, and placenta.  When left untreated, a fetus may not receive the blood it needs to grow or survive.  As a result of untreated PIH, an intrauterine growth restriction (poor fetal growth) or stillbirth may occur.

How a Memphis Birth Injury Lawyer can Help

If you are suffering from health complications because a doctor failed to diagnose pregnancy induced hypertension, you should speak with an attorney about taking legal action. An attorney can also help you file a lawsuit if you had a stillbirth or your child suffered some type of birth injury due to undiagnosed PIH.   Obstetricians are legally responsible for making sure proper prenatal care is given at all times.  This includes putting the mother on bed rest when need be, ensuring she drinks more water and consumes less salts, and increasing the amount of prenatal checkups. When a doctor fails to diagnose PIH, he or she can be held liable for damages under Tennessee medical malpractice laws.