Plaintiff Files Medical Malpractice Lawsuit After Doctors Tell Her She Isn’t Pregnant
A Las Vegas plaintiff has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against her doctor, the healthcare clinic he worked for, and two nurses after they nearly terminated her pregnancy, according to a recent lawsuit. The plaintiff had gone to the medical facility on September 15, 2021, when she found out she was pregnant. A test later confirmed the pregnancy. She returned to the medical facility two days later after she experienced bleeding. An exam determined that the plaintiff had fibroid tumors. The plaintiff was also told, although a test came back positive, that there was no fetal heartbeat, according to the lawsuit.
On September 24, the plaintiff went back to the medical center for a follow-up. A nurse practitioner performed an ultrasound on the plaintiff which allegedly showed that there was no fetal heartbeat, no change, and no fetal growth. Nurses told the plaintiff that she did not have a viable fetus but did not perform a pregnancy test.
On September 29, the plaintiff saw a doctor who is named in the lawsuit. The doctor performed a D&C, which is one method of ending a pregnancy. The plaintiff returned to the medical center on October 6, where she reported that she had very light bleeding, but extreme abdominal pain. A nurse practitioner performed an ultrasound and told the plaintiff that when a viable fetus does not form, spontaneous abortion cannot be stopped. Again, a pregnancy test was not performed.
At this point, the nurse practitioner prescribed Cytotec, a drug that causes uterine contractions and would expel the contents of her uterus, according to the lawsuit. Before filling the prescription, however, the plaintiff got a second opinion. The lawsuit contends that the second hospital performed an ultrasound and was able to hear a fetal heartbeat and find a viable fetus. The plaintiff’s baby was delivered in April of 2022.
The plaintiff has filed a lawsuit against the first medical clinic that diagnosed her fetus as being non-viable.
Elements of medical negligence
In a medical malpractice lawsuit, it isn’t enough to show that your doctor made a mistake. You must also establish that an injury resulted from the mistake the doctor made. In this case, the abortion was never performed, and the patient delivered a healthy baby. While the medical clinic clearly erred in its determination of the viability of the fetus, the plaintiff must further be able to establish that she suffered some form of injury as a result of their misguided care.
If the patient suffered injury as a result of the medical care provided by the first medical clinic, then she does have a viable case against the clinic. She can sue to recover her medical expenses, for pain and suffering damages, and potentially lost work. But medical malpractice lawsuits are expensive to litigate and injuries in these cases need to be serious to justify the cost.
Talk to a Tampa, FL Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
The Matassini Law Firm represents the interests of Tampa, FL patients who have been injured due to medical malpractice. Call our Tampa medical malpractice lawyers today to schedule a free consultation, and we can begin discussing your case immediately.
Source:
8newsnow.com/news/local-news/malpractice-suit-details-how-second-opinion-saved-a-life/
