⚠️ Failure to Diagnose High-Risk Pregnancy Conditions: What Attorneys Need to Know
🚨 Why High-Risk Conditions in Pregnancy Must Be Identified Early
Pregnancy is a time that requires meticulous monitoring, especially when complications threaten the health of the mother or fetus. Certain medical conditions significantly increase the risks of serious injury—or even death—if not caught and managed correctly.
When healthcare providers fail to diagnose these high-risk pregnancy conditions, it may constitute medical negligence, opening the door to legal action.
🧬 Common High-Risk Conditions That Must Not Be Missed
1. Gestational Diabetes
Can lead to excessive fetal growth (macrosomia), shoulder dystocia, or birth trauma
Requires insulin management and dietary oversight
Failure to diagnose can result in emergency C-sections or neonatal hypoglycemia.
2. Preeclampsia
High blood pressure and protein in urine after 20 weeks
If untreated, it can lead to eclampsia, stroke, seizures, or HELLP syndrome
May necessitate early delivery to protect the mother and baby
3. Placenta Previa
The placenta partially or completely covers the cervix
Causes third-trimester bleeding and can lead to fetal distress or maternal hemorrhage
Requires early identification for scheduled C-section
4. Incompetent Cervix
Cervical insufficiency that causes early dilation and preterm birth
It can often be treated with a cerclage if caught early
Failure to diagnose results in miscarriage or extreme prematurity
⚖️ Legal Ramifications: When Missed Diagnoses Become Malpractice
Physicians and OBs are held to a recognized standard of care. Failure to monitor or test for high-risk conditions—especially with existing symptoms or history—can be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Attorneys may pursue claims for:
Prenatal negligence
Wrongful birth (in cases of failure to disclose risks)
Birth injury due to unmanaged complications
Maternal injury or wrongful death
Timelines matter. Attorneys must move quickly to:
Secure complete prenatal records
Identify missed red flags or diagnostic delays
Consult with qualified medical experts
🩺 How Lexcura Summit Supports These Cases
At Lexcura Summit, we help attorneys cut through complex OB documentation and uncover where the standard of care was breached. Our services include:
✅ Medical Chronologies: Organized prenatal, labor, and delivery records
✅ Expert Nurse & Physician Review: Analysis of what should’ve been tested or diagnosed
✅ Narrative Summaries: Clear and court-ready explanations of the negligence
✅ Life Care Plans: Projections for lifelong medical needs (if baby or mother was harmed)
✅ Rebuttals: When opposing experts attempt to shift blame or obscure facts
All our deliverables are litigation-ready and HIPAA-compliant, and we turn them around in 7 days or less.
📅 Don’t Wait — These Cases Are Time-Sensitive
The statute of limitations for OB malpractice varies by state—often between 1 and 3 years from the date of discovery. In some cases, children harmed in utero may have extended timelines.
But waiting too long to investigate could mean:
Loss of vital medical records
Faded memories of providers and staff
Missed opportunities for expert review
📞 Work With a Trusted Medical-Legal Partner
If you're handling a case involving undiagnosed gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or placenta previa, Lexcura Summit is here to support your legal strategy with speed and medical precision.
👉 Visit: www.lexcurasummit.com
📞 Call: (352) 703‑0703
📩 Upload a case for review (up to 250 pages free)
