Experiencing ectopic pregnancy medical negligence can have a devastating impact on your health and wellbeing. Whether it happened due to a failure to diagnose, a misdiagnosis, or delayed diagnosis or treatment, our panel of solicitors has decades of experience in winning compensation for clients who have suffered gynaecology medical negligence.
You can find out if you’re eligible to claim completely free of charge. -Simply get in touch with one of our advisors using the contact methods below for a free claim assessment.
- Use our online contact form to begin.
- Call an advisor via 0113 460 1216.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Am I Able To Make An Ectopic Pregnancy Medical Negligence Claim?
- How Much Ectopic Pregnancy Compensation Could I Get?
- What Is An Ectopic Pregnancy?
- How Should Ectopic Pregnancies Be Treated?
- Examples Of Medical Negligence Ectopic Pregnancy Claims
- How To Start A Claim For Ectopic Pregnancy Negligence
- No Win No Fee Ectopic Pregnancy Compensation Claims
- Learn More
Am I Able To Make An Ectopic Pregnancy Medical Negligence Claim?
Yes, you can make an ectopic pregnancy medical negligence claim if:
- A medical professional owed you a duty of care.
- This duty of care was breached.
- You suffered avoidable or unnecessary harm because of this breach.
Any medical professional treating you owes you a duty of care, which means they are obligated to provide care to the expected standard. If this does not happen and you experience avoidable or unnecessary harm, this is considered medical negligence.
Speak to one of our advisors now about the eligiblity criteria that you must satisfy in order to claim. They can help assess whether it is valid and if it is, you could be connected to a solicitor from our panel to support your claim.
Can I Claim On Behalf Of A Loved One?
You can claim on behalf of a loved one by becoming a litigation friend. Anyone can become a litigation friend as long as they are approved by the court. They are commonly used for vulnerable adults (those without the mental capacity to handle the claims process) and patients who are under 18 because these parties cannot claim for themselves.
You can also claim on behalf of a deceased loved one. Under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions Act) 1934, the estate of the deceased can claim for financial losses and the pain and suffering of the deceased before their death. This must be done within 6 months of the deceased’s death. Additionally, dependents of the deceased can claim for how the deceased’s death has affected them under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 if the estate hasn’t already.
Find out more about eligibility criteria or claiming on behalf of someone else by getting in touch today.
How Much Ectopic Pregnancy Compensation Could I Get?
According to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), you could potentially receive up to £140,210 to £207,260 in ectopic pregnancy compensation for severe female reproductive injuries. The JCG is used by those who value claims to calculate how much compensation someone could receive.
We’ve provided a table with some figures from the JCG, except for the first row, which is included to show how you can be compensated for multiple injuries and types of harm plus related costs. All figures in the table below should be used as a guide only, as you could be awarded a bigger or smaller medical negligence payout for your claim.
| TYPE OF INJURY | SEVERITY | GUIDELINE COMPENSATION | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries | Severe | Up to £500,000+ | Several injuries with the addition of special damages like lost earnings. |
| Female Reproductive Injuries | a) - Complete infertility. | £140,210 to £207,260 | Infertility due to injury or disease with significant medical complications. |
| b) - Likely irreversible sexual dysfunction. | £52,490 to £124,620 | Likely permanent sexual dysfunction in someone who has already had or did not want children. | |
| c) - Infertility without aggravating medical complications. | £68,440 to £87,070 | Infertility without additional aggravating features. | |
| d) - Infertility with no additional effects. | £21,920 to £44,840 | Infertility with no extra medical complications. | |
| e) - Infertility in someone unlikely to have children. | £8,060 to £22,800 | Infertility in a person who would likely not have had children. | |
| f) - Delay ectopic pregnancy diagnosis but fertility not affected. | £4,140 to £24,930 | Delay in diagnosing ectopic pregnancy but without any effect on fertility. | |
| g) - Failed sterilisation with likely no psychological trauma. | In the region of £12,450 | Failed sterilisation that leads to unwanted pregnancy with no severe psychological trauma. | |
| General Psychiatric Damage | Severe | £66,920 to £141,240 | Compensation will depend on how badly the patient's life has been affected and the expected prognosis. |
| Moderately Severe | £23,270 to £66,920 | As above with an expected more positive prognosis. |
What Determines The Amount Of Compensation I Can Get?
Several factors determine the amount of ectopic pregnancy compensation you get, including the severity of your injury as well as any out of pocket expenses related to the harm you suffered.
The figures in the table above are general damages compensation. This kind of compensation covers pain and suffering, psychological trauma (such as depression or PTSD), and how your life has been affected by ectopic pregnancy medical negligence.
You are also likely to receive special damages compensation, which is designed to reimburse financial losses. For a medical negligence claim, you could receive special damages compensation for:
- Medical treatment.
- Prescription costs.
- At-home care.
- Transportation to and from hospitals if you cannot drive to your appointments.
You will need evidence to claim special damages, which you can read more about in the dedicated section later on. Our advisors can also assist with extra information about anything related to compensation and provide you with a free estimate of the value of your claim.
What Is An Ectopic Pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg inserts itself outside of the womb, commonly in a fallopian tube. The condition is often diagnosed via blood tests, a vaginal ultrasound, a laparoscopy (keyhole surgery), or all three.
How Do Ectopic Pregnancies Happen?
Per the NHS, ectopic pregnancies can happen due to a blockage in the affected fallopian tube, which means the egg cannot travel to the uterus. They can also occur due to pelvic inflammatory disease, fertility treatment like IVF, or risk factors like being over 35 and/or a smoker.
How Often Do Ectopic Pregnancies Occur?
According to the NHS, ectopic pregnancies occur in approximately 1 in 90 pregnancies.
The Symptoms Of An Ectopic Pregnancy
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy can vary. Some ectopic pregnancies will have no symptoms at all. The main symptoms are generally:
- Not having a regular period or missing a period.
- Lower stomach pain.
- Shoulder tip pain.
- A feeling of discomfort during bladder or bowel movements.
- Vaginal bleeding.
- Brown discharge, watery in texture.
As these symptoms cross over with other conditions, misdiagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy can occur. It’s important to get all symptoms checked out, as an ectopic pregnancy diagnosed early is always better in terms of treatment.
How Should Ectopic Pregnancies Be Treated?
An ectopic pregnancy should be treated by ongoing monitoring, a laparoscopy, or specific medicine. You can find out more about each method of appropriate treatment in this section.
Expectant Management
If your ectopic pregnancy is on the smaller side or you have no obvious symptoms, you may be advised that actively monitoring the situation is best until the pregnancy dissolves by itself. This involves ongoing blood tests to ensure the process is working as it should. Sometimes, further treatment is required.
Methotrexate Medicine
In some cases, a medicine called methotrexate is offered. Once taken, this medicine stops the fertilised egg from developing and stops the risk of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Over time, the pregnancy tissue will be reabsorbed by the body.
Laparoscopy Or Emergency Surgery
Laparoscopy surgery can detect the presence of an ectopic pregnancy and also remove the pregnancy from within the body. Whether this surgery is carried out will depend on where the ectopic pregnancy is and the patient’s symptoms. For example, if the patient has severe internal bleeding.
If you experienced negligent treatment, contact our advisors today to see if you’re eligible to claim.
Examples Of Medical Negligence Ectopic Pregnancy Claims
There are several ways ectopic pregnancy medical negligence can happen, including doctor negligence, GP misdiagnosis, and surgical negligence. You can find examples of situations that would be considered medical negligence below.
Delayed Diagnosis Of Ectopic Pregnancy
- A patient presents to their GP with potential symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy but is not offered a blood test or vaginal ultrasound. The delayed diagnosis means one of their fallopian tubes ruptures, leading to infertility.
- A patient attends emergency care with abdominal pain and is told they are having a miscarriage. Because of the delay in being diagnosed, the patient suffers extensive bleeding and psychological trauma after their fallopian tube has to be removed in emergency surgery.
Ectopic Pregnancy Missed Due To Misinterpreted Results
- A patient undergoes blood tests to confirm an ectopic pregnancy, but the medical professional interprets the results incorrectly. This failure to diagnose leads the patient to suffer severe depression and experience later complications when trying to get pregnant again.
- A patient has a vaginal ultrasound due to a suspected ectopic pregnancy, but the fertilised egg is too small to be seen, leading the patient to be dismissed without further investigation. The patient later requires emergency surgery after the fertilised egg continues to grow in the fallopian tube.
Misdiagnosis Of Ectopic Pregnancy Symptoms
- A patient is misdiagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease when seeing a medical professional despite displaying clear symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy. The patient is later required to have invasive surgery as the pregnancy continues to develop.
- A patient suffers severe internal bleeding and requires emergency surgery after being misdiagnosed with ovarian cysts and dismissed without proper testing. The patient develops severe anxiety and depression because of the trauma.
Ectopic Pregnancy Surgical Errors Or Incomplete Surgery
- After an ectopic pregnancy is discovered, a patient undergoes a laparoscopy to remove it. However, the incorrect fallopian tube is removed, causing the patient emotional distress and the need for further surgery to remove the correct fallopian tube.
- Following surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy, a patient is not given the correct post-operation instructions or a follow-up appointment with the hospital. The patient ends up having to visit emergency care after weeks of heavy bleeding and is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after the experience.
See if you can pursue a claim with one of the expert medical negligence solicitors from our panel by contacting an advisor today.
How To Start A Claim For Ectopic Pregnancy Negligence
To begin a claim for ectopic pregnancy negligence, you’ll need to be within the 3-year time limit. Per the Limitation Act 1980, all medical negligence claims must start within 3 years. This begins either:
- From the date of negligence.
- From the date of knowledge (when you became aware that negligence happened).
There are 2 exceptions to this time limit.
- Patients under 18. Minors cannot claim themselves, though they can be represented by a litigation friend. Alternatively, the patient can wait until they turn 18, from when they have 3 years to claim.
- Patients lacking mental capacity. No time limit applies in this situation, though a litigation friend can be used. The time limit begins if capacity is regained.
Evidence
For medical negligence claims, evidence like the kinds below will be most beneficial.
- A way to contact witnesses to your treatment, such as a friend or family member who accompanied you to the hospital.
- Your full medical records.
- Bank statements and invoices to claim special damages.
- An independent medical assessment (this will be arranged by your solicitor if your claim is eligible).
- A complete timeline of events.
Our advisors can let you know if you are within the time limit to claim or answer any queries you might have about evidence for medical negligence claims.
No Win No Fee Ectopic Pregnancy Compensation Claims
With our panel of expert ectopic pregnancy solicitors, you can claim on a No Win No Fee basis via a Conditional Fee Agreement. Claiming with the help of a No Win No Fee solicitor is particularly beneficial because you get full support with your claim while not paying for your solicitor’s work upfront:
- You pay your solicitor a success fee only if you receive compensation.
- This fee is capped at a legal maximum of 25%.
Because of this, you don’t have to worry about paying solicitor’s fees before the claims process begins or as it progresses. Furthermore, there are no solicitor’s fees if your claim does not have a successful outcome.
Contact Medical Negligence Claims Care
Receiving compensation could change your life after a traumatic event. To find out if you can claim with no upfront solicitor’s fees, speak to an advisor today.
- Use our online contact form to begin.
- Call an advisor via 0113 460 1216.
Learn More
Discover some more of our guides below.
- See how to claim birth injury compensation.
- Find out more about never events.
- Read our guide on payouts for fatal medical negligence cases.
The links below will take you to relevant external sources.
- Find out the quality of care in a hospital via CQC.ORG.UK.
- Discover the duties of a doctor registered with the General Medical Council via GMC-UK.ORG.
- Read about a medical professional’s duty of candour via GMC-UK.ORG.
Thank you for reading our ectopic pregnancy medical negligence guide.