San Antonio HELLP Syndrome Lawyer
Pregnant women who develop preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome face an increased risk of life-threatening complications. HELLP syndrome is a serious condition that requires prompt and accurate medical intervention. When a doctor fails to recognize the symptoms of HELLP syndrome, fails to take proper precautions for pregnant women who could potentially develop HELLP syndrome, fails to adequately treat HELLP syndrome, or makes medical errors in that treatment, such failures could lead to birth injuries or maternal death. In such cases, affected families have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim.
At Janicek Law, our birth injury lawyers have a proven track record of advocating for victims of HELLP syndrome birth injuries caused by medical errors. Call 210-366-4949 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
What is HELLP Syndrome?
The name HELLP syndrome stands for Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelet count.
HELLP syndrome is a rare medical condition affecting pregnant women, typically in the third trimester or the week following birth. The serious condition is a variant of preeclampsia, often characterized by blood pressure problems, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count, and breakdown of red blood cells in pregnant women. Pregnant women who develop HELLP syndrome are at risk of life-threatening complications if their medical provider does not recognize common symptoms of HELLP syndrome or take the proper precautions to manage this serious condition.
In the United States, about 15% of pregnant women with preeclampsia develop HELLP syndrome. Symptoms of HELLP syndrome can include sudden weight gain, blurred vision, persistent headaches, nausea, upper right abdominal tenderness, chest pain, and swelling.
This can lead to life-threatening complications for both the mother and baby, including liver problems, blood pressure problems, pulmonary edema, placental abruption, and complications associated with premature birth.
Hemolysis
In a healthy pregnant woman, red blood cells last around 120, but for pregnant women with HELLP syndrome, their red blood cells break down prematurely. The premature destruction of red blood cells releases hemoglobin into the bloodstream, reducing the patient’s ability to carry oxygen.
In cases of pregnant women who are at an increased risk for developing HELLP syndrome, the medical provider should order blood tests to ensure adequate red blood cells. If a doctor fails to order blood tests or a blood transfusion when necessary, our birth injury lawyers can help your family seek financial compensation for the physician’s negligence through a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Elevated Liver Enzymes
If pregnant women present with elevated liver enzymes, doctors must promptly order additional liver function tests to assess the extent of the liver problems and monitor for other symptoms of HELLP syndrome, especially in the third trimester. Close monitoring of elevated liver enzymes and other HELLP symptoms is key to preventing liver failure and protecting the mother and baby from further serious complications. By addressing elevated liver enzymes quickly, the doctor can reduce the risk of severe outcomes associated with HELLP syndrome.
If a doctor fails to do so, our birth injury lawyers can help hold the negligent medical professional accountable for the resulting HELLP injuries. Call our law firm for a free consultation.
Low Platelet Count
Platelets are essential for blood clotting, and a low platelet count affects the blood’s ability to clot properly. This can put a pregnant woman at increased risk of excessive bleeding during childbirth, potentially requiring blood transfusions. Physicians should order blood tests, monitor for symptoms of HELLP syndrome, and take proper precautions to ensure the patient doesn’t develop a more serious condition.
If your doctor fails to adequately monitor a low platelet count, contact our birth injury law firm for a free consultation.
What Causes HELLP Syndrome?
The specific causes of HELLP syndrome are not completely understood, but it is believed to involve several factors:
- Genetic predispositions: Some pregnant women may have genetic traits that increase the risk factors for developing HELLP syndrome.
- Immune system responses: Abnormal responses by the immune system are risk factors for developing HELLP syndrome.
- Vascular endothelial dysfunction: Pregnant women with blood vessel issues, such as endothelium damage (the inner lining of blood vessels), have an increased risk of developing both preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome.
If a pregnant woman develops preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome during pregnancy, the risk factors are higher for developing HELLP syndrome in subsequent pregnancies. Additionally, pregnant women over 25 and those with pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, autoimmune disorders, kidney disease, or blood pressure problems, are also at a higher risk.
HELLP syndrome can appear in the third trimester or shortly after birth. Our birth injury lawyers can help families pursue financial compensation for HELLP syndrome caused or exacerbated by medical negligence.
Why Doctors Should Use Differential Diagnosis to Avoid Medical Misdiagnosis
Medical malpractice can occur when a doctor fails to perform a thorough differential diagnosis, as this medical negligence can lead to a complete failure to treat HELLP or delayed failure to treat HELLP syndrome that results in birth injuries or maternal death.
HELLP syndrome is commonly misdiagnosed. Medical professionals often mistake HELLP symptoms for hepatitis, flu, blood or autoimmune disorders, or gallbladder disease. A misdiagnosis leads to delays or a failure to treat HELLP syndrome, causing serious harm to both the mother and the baby.
Implementing a thorough differential diagnosis process is essential to accurately distinguish HELLP syndrome from other conditions.
If your doctor fails to recognize symptoms of HELLP syndrome and misdiagnosed the serious condition for gallbladder disease, autoimmune disorders, or any other condition, our San Antonio misdiagnosis lawyer team can help. Our birth injury law firm has extensive experience in HELLP syndrome cases and can help your family pursue a medical malpractice claim to seek compensation for medical expenses and other damages related to negligent medical errors.
HELLP Syndrome in Pregnancy
An accurate diagnosis of HELLP syndrome during pregnancy is vital due to the serious health risks it poses to both a pregnant woman and baby, including liver problems or complete liver failure, severe bleeding, kidney issues or renal dysfunction, brain injury, respiratory failure, placental abruption leading to stillbirth, eclampsia, and birth injury. Recognizing the warning signs and performing the appropriate blood tests are essential for the timely intervention of pregnant women who develop HELLP syndrome.
The warning signs of HELLP syndrome during pregnancy include persistent headaches, abdominal tenderness, chest pain, nausea and vomiting, extreme fatigue, swelling in the hands and face, blurred vision or visual disturbances, blood pressure problems, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.
A complete blood count and liver function test can help to accurately diagnose HELLP syndrome. Medical malpractice can occur if the medical provider ignores warning signs and fails to treat HELLP syndrome in a timely manner.
HELLP Syndrome Postpartum
Women can develop HELLP syndrome postpartum, often within the first 48 hours after delivery, though it can also occur up to a week later.
If the doctor fails to provide adequate postpartum care and monitoring, the symptoms of HELLP syndrome may be overlooked or misattributed to typical postpartum recovery. This medical negligence can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, resulting in serious health risks and complications for the mother.
In such cases, our birth injury attorneys can work to prove that medical malpractice occurred and help affected families seek justice and compensation for the harm caused.
HELLP Syndrome vs Preeclampsia
HELLP syndrome is considered a variant of preeclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure and signs of organ damage during pregnancy. Both preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome have similar symptoms, which can lead to misdiagnosis.
While preeclampsia primarily involves blood pressure problems and proteinuria (protein in the urine), HELLP syndrome presents additional components such as hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count. HELLP syndrome requires specific blood tests to identify these specific markers. Preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome both pose significant risks and can cause life-threatening maternal birth injury or injure the unborn child.
If a delayed or misdiagnosis occurs, leading to HELLP injuries or complications in subsequent pregnancies, a San Antonio preeclampsia attorney can provide legal assistance to ensure affected families receive proper compensation and justice for the harm caused.
HELLP Syndrome Risks
Risk Factors for Mothers
Women with HELLP syndrome face significant health risks, including severe liver problems and their blood’s inability to clot properly. HELLP syndrome can also cause pulmonary edema, where fluid accumulates in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and adding strain on the mother’s already-exhausted body.
These serious complications can require immediate delivery to protect the mother and unborn child. The urgency and severity of the situation can make labor and delivery more complicated and dangerous. Because the mother is at higher risk for uncontrolled bleeding during labor, a blood transfusion may be needed.
Medical errors in the delivery room can be especially harmful to women with HELLP syndrome because they are at a higher risk of maternal injuries. In such cases, our San Antonio maternal birth injury lawyer team can help families pursue justice and compensation for the serious harm caused by inadequate medical treatment.
Risk Factors for Babies
Babies born to mothers with HELLP syndrome face risks such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which results in the baby being smaller than expected for their gestational age due to inadequate blood flow and nutrients from the placenta. Additionally, the need for early delivery can cause premature birth complications like respiratory distress, underdeveloped organs, and low birth weight, increasing the likelihood of infections and developmental delays. Other birth injury complications can deprive the baby of essential nutrients and oxygen, causing fetal distress for the unborn child and potential long-term health issues.
Cerebral Palsy
HELLP syndrome can lead to cerebral palsy due to complications associated with preterm birth and placental abruption, which can cause oxygen deprivation and brain injuries during critical developmental periods.
If HELLP syndrome caused cerebral palsy in your child, it is essential to consult a San Antonio cerebral palsy lawyer who is experienced in medical negligence cases. Our birth injury lawyers can help determine if the condition resulted from inadequate medical care and seek compensation for the birth injuries sustained.
Brain Damage
HELLP syndrome can cause brain damage through complications that restrict the baby’s oxygen supply. Conditions such as placental abruption, where the placenta detaches from the uterus prematurely, can significantly decrease the oxygen and nutrients delivered to the baby. Additionally, the high blood pressure associated with HELLP syndrome can disrupt blood flow, further limiting oxygen to the baby’s developing brain.
Kidney Failure and/or Liver Failure
Babies can suffer from kidney failure and liver failure due to severe complications that arise from the mother’s condition. The reduced blood flow and oxygen caused by placental abruption and high blood pressure can lead to insufficient development and function of the baby’s organs, including the kidneys and liver.
Lung Failure
HELLP syndrome can cause complications that lead to premature birth, which can severely impact fetal lung development. The premature delivery often associated with HELLP syndrome means the baby’s lungs may not be fully developed, resulting in respiratory distress syndrome and potential lung failure.
Epilepsy
Babies can develop epilepsy due to complications that result in brain damage. Conditions such as placental abruption and high blood pressure can restrict oxygen and nutrients to the baby’s brain. This lack of oxygen can impair brain development and function, increasing the risk of seizures and epilepsy in the affected baby.
Can You Sue for Failure to Treat HELLP Syndrome in Texas?
Yes, you can sue for failure to treat HELLP syndrome in Texas. If medical professionals fail to diagnose or properly treat HELLP syndrome, leading to birth injuries caused to the mother or the child, this can be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Victims can seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and long-term health impacts resulting from the mother or child’s birth injury.
Consulting with a birth injury lawyer in San Antonio can help ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable for failing to provide adequate medical care.
How a San Antonio HELLP Syndrome Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help
If you or your child has suffered injuries due to HELLP syndrome and you believe medical negligence was involved, a San Antonio medical malpractice attorney at Janicek Law is ready to assist. Our law firm boasts a team of medical malpractice lawyers who are experienced in cases related to HELLP syndrome. You can trust that a skilled attorney will work to hold the responsible parties accountable for you or your child’s injuries.
Janicek Law is committed to advocating for the compensation and justice your family deserves. Call 210-366-4949 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation today.