Ectopic pregnancy claims

If an ectopic pregnancy is not identified and treated in time, it can lead to serious complications. These may include rupture of the fallopian tube, significant internal bleeding, emergency surgery, and long-term effects on fertility. In rare cases, the consequences can be life-threatening. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate management are vital to reduce these risks.

Ectopic pregnancy negligence usually occurs when warning signs are missed or when treatment is delayed. This may include failing to recognise symptoms such as abdominal pain or bleeding, not arranging urgent blood tests or scans, misinterpreting test results, or discharging someone without ruling out an ectopic pregnancy.

Any delay in diagnosis or treatment can increase the risk of rupture and serious harm.

In most cases, you have 3 years to bring a claim, starting from either the date of the negligent treatment, or the date on which you first became reasonably aware that negligence may have caused your injury – whichever is later.

There are exceptions to this rule. If you lack the mental capacity to conduct legal proceedings, a claim may be brought on your behalf at any time. If the claim involves a child, it can be brought on their behalf at any time before their 18th birthday. Once they turn 18 and have mental capacity, they have a further 3 years to bring their own claim.

We strongly advise seeking legal advice as soon as possible. Even if you are unsure whether your time limit has passed, it is worth contacting us so we can advise you.

Our initial advice is always free. If you decide to instruct us, most of our clients proceed on a No Win No Fee basis – meaning you pay nothing upfront and nothing at all if your claim is unsuccessful.

If your claim is successful, we will seek to recover the majority of our legal fees from the defendant or their insurer. If there is any shortfall, a pre-agreed percentage will be deducted from your final compensation. We will explain all funding options clearly at the start of your claim, so you know exactly where you stand.

Every case is different. The time it takes depends on the complexity of the claim, the severity of your injuries, and whether the defendant admits fault. Some cases can be resolved within 18 to 24 months, while others – particularly those involving serious or long-term injuries – may take longer.

Whatever the timeline, our team will support you at every stage and keep you informed throughout the process.

The vast majority of medical negligence cases are settled without the need for a trial. Negotiations and settlement meetings are usually sufficient to reach an agreement.

In the rare situations where a case does go to trial, your solicitor will guide you through every stage and make sure you feel fully prepared. Our aim is always to make the process as clear and manageable as possible.

We will gather all of the evidence needed on your behalf. This typically includes your full medical records, witness statements, and independent expert reports from medical specialists such as a gynaecologist or GP expert.

The independent expert will provide a written report setting out whether your treatment fell below a reasonable standard and whether that caused you harm. You do not need to gather this evidence yourself – it is our job to build the case for you.

From your first free case assessment to the resolution of your claim, our team is here to guide you. We will explain every step clearly, keep you updated on progress, and make sure you never feel out of the loop.

We understand that pursuing a claim can feel daunting, especially while you are also dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath of what happened. Our focus is on taking on the complexity so that you can focus on your recovery.

A false negative misdiagnosis can lead to dangerous delays in treatment. It occurs when an ectopic pregnancy is missed, for example, when symptoms are attributed to another condition or test results are misinterpreted.

A false positive misdiagnosis occurs in very rare cases when a healthy pregnancy is incorrectly identified as ectopic. If treatment is then administered to end the suspected ectopic pregnancy, this will unfortunately also terminate a healthy pregnancy.

Both types of misdiagnosis can cause serious harm and may form the basis of a negligence claim.

Common examples of possible medical negligence include:

• Delayed diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy or fallopian tube rupture
• Medical professionals may fail to recognise the signs of an ectopic pregnancy or fallopian tube rupture, and factors which place the woman at an increased risk of having an ectopic pregnancy, may also be missed.
• Many women are told that their symptoms such as pain or bleeding are normal in early pregnancy, which can lead to a woman being dismissed by her GP or inappropriately discharged from hospital. Others may be told that their symptoms are due to another cause or condition, whilst results of blood tests, or ultrasound imaging may be misinterpreted
• All of which can lead to a delayed diagnosis, with potentially serious consequences.
• Inappropriate or delayed management and treatment
• If an ectopic pregnancy is suspected or diagnosed, there may be a delay in referring the woman for further assessment and investigations or carrying out the appropriate treatment.
• Where a woman has a suspected fallopian tube rupture, there may be a delay in performing emergency surgery, or mistakes may have been made during the procedure itself.
• Inadequate monitoring following diagnosis or treatment

With any management or treatment option, it is vital that a woman is closely monitored to ensure that the ectopic pregnancy has fully ended, either by itself or following intervention. Otherwise, the pregnancy will continue to grow, and inadequate monitoring may lead this being missed.

If a woman has undergone surgery to remove the ectopic pregnancy, or following a rupture, inadequate post-operative monitoring may increase the risk of infections such as sepsis, or complications arising from bleeding, anaesthesia and damage to the surrounding organs, arteries or nerves.