Ohio legislators recently introduced an abortion bill, which if passed will require physicians to re-implant ectopic pregnancies by placing fertilized embryos into a woman’s uterus.
This bill has been proposed despite physicians claiming it is medically impossible to move an embryo in such a manner. The bill also orders a ban in the state on abortion and defines a fertilized egg as an unborn child.
Anyone who is found guilty of committing an abortion, under the bill, would end up facing the potential of life in prison. Another criminal offense listed on the bill is aggravated abortion murder, and the crime would be punishable by death.
While this bill introduces several interesting points, this article discusses the risks associated with ectopic pregnancy.
What Constitutes an Ectopic Pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when an embryo incorrectly attaches to the tissue outside of a mother’s uterine cavity rather than move through the fallopian tube into the womb. A surprisingly common complication that can endanger the life of the mother, ectopic pregnancies are reported to occur in approximately one out of every 80 pregnancies.
Unfortunately, medical professionals sometimes fail to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy. This constitutes medical negligence, and if it happens to you, you have the basis for a lawsuit.
Diagnosis of an Ectopic Pregnancy
To identify ectopic pregnancies, medical professionals often order a urine test, a blood test for pregnancy hormones, and an ultrasound. When still in the early stages, it can be challenging to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy. While medical professionals sometimes fail to diagnose ectopic pregnancies, it is also common for pregnancies to be incorrectly identified as ectopic when medical professionals are not able to locate the heartbeat of a fetus.
Failure to properly identify ectopic pregnancy can result in the death of mothers. Approximately 9% of maternal deaths are the result of ectopic pregnancies that were improperly diagnosed.
Factors that Increase the Risk of Ectopic Pregnancies
There is no one single factor that increased the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. Instead, some factors that increase a mother’s chances of undergoing the process. Some risk factors include:
- Mothers with previous ectopic pregnancies
- Trauma that results in damage to the fallopian tubes
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Using assisted conception treatment and intrauterine contraceptive devices
- Women over the age of 35 who become pregnant
- Smoking
Some of the most common symptoms of ectopic pregnancies include abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, faintness, and diarrhea. These symptoms often begin when a pregnancy is between four to seven weeks. Sometimes, a mother is not even aware she is pregnant when the symptoms begin.
Call Me Today
If a medical professional fails to diagnose your ectopic pregnancy, you are likely the victim of medical negligence. I have helped hundreds of victims harmed by medical negligence create strong legal strategies to hold the medical professional responsible.
Call me today and remember, I’ll Make Them Pay!®.
