Ectopic pregnancies affect one in every eighty pregnancies in Ireland. In an ectopic pregnancy, the pregnancy grows outside of the womb. Symptoms arise in early pregnancy, from in or about week 6, at a stage where some women will not yet be aware that they are pregnant. For this reason, it is so very important that women are cognisant of the signs of ectopic pregnancy, a condition which can very quickly become life-threatening.

Symptoms include:

• pain in the lower abdomen
• vaginal bleeding
• constant pain at the tip of your shoulder that does not go away when you rest or take painkillers
• pain when toileting
• Symptom of gastro upset – diarrhea or stomach upset

Brigid O’Donnell Solicitors were delighted to achieve fair and appropriate compensation for a client who suffered injuries due to medical negligence following delay in diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.

My client had a prior history of ectopic pregnancy, for  which she had been treated conservatively without issue.

Accordingly, fortunately, she was very alert to the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy and when she fell pregnant and experienced pain, she immediately contacted the Early Pregnancy Unit, as she had been advised.

For reasons unknown, the radiology department at the hospital where she attended declined to carry out a transvaginal scan when an ultrasound failed to detect a pregnancy.  Instead, our client was discharged for follow up at the Maternity Hospital. By the time she was reviewed at the Maternity Hospital, days later, she was diagnosed with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and was required to undergo laparotomy involving salpingectomy, or removal of a fallopian tube. Our case was that had she been diagnosed when she initially presented, she likely would have been diagnosed and had the option for laparoscopic procedures, with shorter recovery times and would have been saved the trauma involved with such a medical emergency.

A full Defence was filed – ie all failures of care and resulting injury were fully denied. However,  the case settled for full value following mediation. I had no difficulty recommending the settlement.

If you or a loved one have suffered injuries due to medical negligence, contact Brigid to discuss your concerns. Brigid O’Donnell Solicitor is a native of Cashel, Tipperary. She established Brigid O’Donnell Solicitors, with offices in Clonmel, Tipperary and Cork city in August 2023. She represents clients who have suffered injuries due to accidents, or medical negligence, nationwide. She is happy to facilitate remote consultations or to meet with clients at a time and place convenient to you, outside of office hours if required.