Pre-eclampsia Claims

Sara Westwood, Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution, and Medical Negligence Expert at Hatch Brenner Solicitors in Norwich

What is pre-eclampsia?

Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition that affects some pregnant women, usually during the second half of pregnancy or soon after the delivery of the baby. Early signs include high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in the urine, which should be picked up during routine antenatal appointments. Up to 6% of all UK pregnancies will be affected by pre-eclampsia.*

NICE guidelines outline the process for screening for infections and other clinical conditions during pregnancy; unfortunately when these procedures are not followed, or not followed properly, both mother and baby can suffer irreparable damage.

Symptoms of pre-eclampsia:

The cause of pre-eclampsia is unknown, and there is currently no cure, other than to deliver the baby.

If a mother is diagnosed with mild pre-eclampsia her condition will be closely monitored throughout the remainder of her pregnancy until it is safe to deliver the baby.

Can I make a claim for pre-eclampsia?

There are a number of medical negligence claims that can arise from pre-eclampsia and you may be entitled to compensation in the following instances:

When making a claim for compensation, it is important you seek the advice of a medical negligence solicitor, who has experience of birth injury and pregnancy claims.

If you and/or your baby have suffered injury as a result of pre-eclampsia and you think you may have a claim, contact our specialist team on 01603 660 811, or [email protected].

*www.tommys.org