A doctor’s misdiagnosis of an Idaho woman’s pregnancy led to a baby girl born with severe birth defects. The mother of three had been trying to have another child for over two years. After finally becoming pregnant, her doctor told her that the baby was ectopic. An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that develops outside the mother’s womb. Babies cannot survive an ectopic pregnancy and they can endanger the mother’s life. As a result, doctors terminate ectopic pregnancies at the earliest opportunity.
Her doctor administered two large doses of methotrexate to her hips in an effort to abort the pregnancy. One week later, she returned to the doctor for more methotrexate shots and found out her baby was still alive and properly in her uterus. She decided to carry out the pregnancy and gave birth to a baby girl.
However, her daughter did not have a rectum, vagina or a uterus. In addition, she had a malformed spinal cord. Convinced that the methotrexate shots caused the birth defects, the mother filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor. A jury will decide in January.
Medical experts say that diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy is difficult. The doctor in this case could have chosen other options to make sure he had the proper diagnosis. Sadly, the baby girl will face a lifetime of medical challenges.
Call our office at 504-522-7885 if a doctor’s mistake has affected your life. One of our experienced lawyers will be glad to speak with you at no cost. Our website has more information on our medical malpractice experience.
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