A Step By Step Guide To Ectopic Pregnancy Negligence Claims

An ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency where the fertilised egg implants itself outside the uterus, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. If an egg gets trapped there, it won’t develop into a baby, and it puts the mother’s health at risk. Sadly, the pregnancy can’t be saved. Given the distressing nature of an ectopic pregnancy, it’s vital that the mother receives prompt, accurate and supportive treatment. Unfortunately, women can experience medical treatment that falls below the professional standard of care. Consequently, mothers will encounter ectopic pregnancy negligence and will have the opportunity to pursue pregnancy negligence claims.

Essential Information

• Your obstetrician must ensure that the care and treatment they provide meets a minimum standard. 
• The more evidence you have, the stronger your ectopic pregnancy negligence claim.
• You generally have 3 years from the date you suffered the harm or the date of knowledge to file your claim. 
• The health complications brought about by an ectopic pregnancy can vary drastically, from impacted fertility to the loss of a fallopian tube.
• The amount of compensation you might receive for ectopic pregnancy negligence varies on a case-by-case basis and is determined by the type of harm suffered and its severity.

If you have any immediate concerns related to ectopic pregnancy negligence, please get in touch with our advisors using the contact details below:

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• Phone us on 0161 509 2856
• Contact us online
• Talk to us using our live chat

Jump To A Section

1. Can I Make A Claim For Ectopic Pregnancy Negligence Compensation?
2. How Much Medical Negligence Ectopic Pregnancy Compensation Could I Get?
3. Why Should I Claim Compensation After My Ectopic Pregnancy?
4. How To Claim For Ectopic Pregnancy Negligence
5. The Complications Caused By Ectopic Pregnancy Negligence
6. Speak To Our Team To Start A No Win No Fee Ectopic Pregnancy Claim
7. Frequently Asked Questions 
8. More Information

Can I Make A Claim For Ectopic Pregnancy Negligence Compensation?

Yes, you can make a claim for ectopic pregnancy negligence compensation as long as you meet the eligibility requirements: 

• The medical professional caring for you owed you a duty of care.
• They breached this duty.
• You suffered harm that otherwise would have been avoided because of this breach.

The key point to remember is that obstetricians are legally obligated to provide a duty of care that meets the professional standards outlined by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). This professional association works to improve healthcare for women by establishing standards, offering exceptional training and education, and advocating for women’s healthcare on a global scale.

However, it’s important to note that not every instance of harm is a result of substandard care. Unfortunately, in some cases, the harm is unavoidable even when the obstetrician meets the required standard of care.

If you’d like to know more about the monitored professional standards for obstetricians or want to learn more about the RCOG, reach out to one of our team members.

How Much Medical Negligence Ectopic Pregnancy Compensation Could I Get?

The amount of medical negligence ectopic pregnancy compensation you could get varies. This is because the type of harm and its severity are different for each woman.

However, there are compensation guidelines available for medical negligence solicitors to use to help them calculate compensation: the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a legal publication which contains a wide range of different instances of harm coupled with their suggested compensation brackets. Your own medical negligence solicitor might use the JCG to help them determine your ectopic pregnancy compensation.

Please find below some compensation guidelines for your perusal. However, please bear in mind that the first compensation bracket has not been sourced from the JCG and that the bullet point list below is intended to serve as a guide only.

Guideline Compensation Amounts

1. Multiple Very Severe Forms of Harm with Special Damages – Up to £500,000+ – This includes multiple very severe forms of harm and special damages, including loss of earnings and medical expenses.
2. Reproductive System: Female a) – £140,210 to £207,260 – The claimant will suffer infertility, sexual dysfunction, severe anxiety and depression, pain and scarring. 
3. Reproductive System: Female b) – £52,490 to £124,620 – The presence of sexual dysfunction that is likely permanent. The upper end of this bracket will include significant medical complications, like ectopic pregnancies or multiple surgeries.
4. Reproductive System: Female c) – £68,440 to £87,070 – The individual with no children will suffer infertility; however, there will be no aggravating features present and no sexual dysfunction.
5. Reproductive System: Female d) – £21,920 to £44,840 – The claimant will suffer infertility, no medical complications or sexual dysfunction, and already has children.
6. Reproductive System: Female e) – £8,060 to £22,800 – Presence of infertility; however, the claimant would not have had children in any event, for example, due to age.
7. Reproductive System: Female f) – £4,140 to £24,930 – An ectopic pregnancy diagnosis has been delayed; however, fertility has not been affected. This bracket will take into account any pain, suffering, bleeding, whether a blood transfusion was required, anxiety, adjustment disorder and whether a fallopian tube has been removed.
8. Reproductive System: Female g) – In the region of £12,450 – The claimant will have encountered a failed sterilisation which resulted in an unwanted pregnancy. No serious psychological impact has occurred.

If you have any questions regarding the JCG or any of the compensation bands above, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Why Should I Claim Compensation After My Ectopic Pregnancy?

You should claim compensation after your ectopic pregnancy because you could get access to both general and special damages. These are two heads of compensation; the former is designed to cover any pain or suffering you have experienced as a result of the harm. Notably, this includes both physical and psychological damage, for example, PTSD or anxiety. Your medical negligence solicitor will take into account the following:

• What type of harm you suffered and its severity
• Your expected recovery period
• Whether you have incurred financial losses

The second head of compensation your solicitor will consider is special damages, and this covers any financial losses you have suffered as a direct result of your ectopic pregnancy. Please find below some examples of economic losses:

• Medical bills
• Costs of care
• Travel expenses 
• Loss of earnings
• Future loss of earnings
• Property adaptations
• Any other out-of-pocket expenses

In the event that your ectopic pregnancy has caused you to lose money, you will need to provide your solicitor with evidence in the form of documented costs:

• A letter from your employer stating that you have worked fewer hours or no hours at all
• Medical bills, for example, prescription slips or receipts 
• Travel receipts to and from the hospital, GP or another healthcare setting

Significantly, by pursuing a claim for ectopic pregnancy negligence, the medical setting that failed you will have to investigate what went wrong and implement preventative measures thoroughly. In other words, by pursuing ectopic pregnancy compensation, you will safeguard future patients by forcing the medical setting to make necessary adjustments to ensure ongoing improvement.

If you have any questions regarding general or special damages, please connect with one of our friendly advisors for free. 

How To Claim For Ectopic Pregnancy Negligence

In order to claim for ectopic pregnancy negligence, you will need to abide by the following:

• Gather evidence to validate your claim
• Claim within the legal time limit

Both these factors will contribute to the eligibility of your claim, and if you don’t have sufficient evidence or you fail to file within the time limit, your claim might be dismissed.

How Long To Claim For Ectopic Pregnancy Compensation

You typically have 3 years from the date the avoidable or unnecessary harm took place or the date of knowledge (the day in which you realised that negligence took place), as per the Limitation Act 1980. If you fail to claim within the 3-year time limit for your ectopic pregnancy, your case will be dismissed as invalid. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Please talk to our advisors for more details.

What Evidence Will Be Needed To Claim For Ectopic Pregnancy Negligence?

You will need proof that your obstetrician breached their duty of care towards you and you suffered harm, such as:

• Medical records.
• Contact information from a friend or partner who accompanied you.
• A symptom diary to track how you are feeling.

What you must bear in mind when claiming for ectopic pregnancy negligence is that evidence validates your claim and increases its likelihood of winning. Notably, the main purpose of evidence is to prove that medical negligence occurred.

If you require more clarity regarding time limits or gathering evidence, please speak to us for free over the phone, online or via our live chat. 

The Complications Caused By Ectopic Pregnancy Negligence

Please find below potential complications caused by ectopic pregnancy negligence:

• Impact On Fertility: An ectopic pregnancy can damage the fallopian tube and make future conception and pregnancies more challenging, potentially requiring fertility treatment.
• Loss Of Fallopian Tube: Sometimes, an ectopic pregnancy can cause extensive damage to the fallopian tube, typically via a rupture, resulting in the fallopian tube’s removal. 
• Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy: If an ectopic pregnancy is not diagnosed quickly, the fetus will continue to grow, resulting in the fallopian tube or other affected area rupturing.
• Haemorrhaging: The possibility of rupture addressed above can lead to severe internal bleeding, potentially resulting in hemorrhagic shock.
• Organ Damage: Significant blood loss can cause severe complications to the mother, including organ failure and even death if not treated quickly.
• Psychological Distress: An ectopic pregnancy can cause significant psychological effects, including anxiety, depression and PTSD due to the traumatic nature of the medical emergency as well as the loss of the baby.

If you have experienced one of these medical complications or harm that has not been listed here, please contact an advisor who can provide you with the necessary support to get started on a claim for ectopic pregnancy negligence. 

Speak To Our Team To Start A No Win No Fee Ectopic Pregnancy Claim

Here at Advice, we offer our claimants a range of robust benefits and services because we know how daunting the claims process can be when all you want to do is focus on your recovery. 

First things first, our solicitors will offer their services to you on a No Win No Fee basis via a Conditional Fee Agreement. This means that you have access to a range of benefits:

• There won’t be a solicitor’s fee to pay if your claim fails
• You won’t encounter any upfront solicitor’s fees 
• You won’t pay any ongoing fees to pay for your solicitor’s work

If your claim for ectopic pregnancy negligence is successful, your solicitor will take a success fee from your compensation. As per the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, this fee is a limited percentage.

You will also get immediate access to a wide range of services to make the claims process more efficient and manageable:

• Tell you how strong your claim is and how likely it is to win
• Gather evidence on your behalf, such as witness statements 
• Communicate with the defendant’s solicitors and keep you informed at all times
• Draft the Letter of Claim to begin the claims process
• Calculate a fair compensation figure
• Represent you in negotiations and court proceedings
• Arrange an independent medical assessment to determine the harm done
• Follow all instructions to the letter and meet every deadline promptly 
• Secure the right barrister to navigate your claim if your case goes to court
• Negotiate a final settlement
• Get you access to medical treatment that might not be available on the NHS

If you want to know more about what kind of benefits and services are available to support you during your ectopic pregnancy claim, please reach out using the contact details below:

Contact Our Advisors

• Phone us on 0161 509 2856
• Contact us online
• Talk to us using our live chat

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Ectopic Pregnancies Common?

According to the NHS, around 1 in 90 pregnancies are ectopic, which translates to roughly 11,000 pregnancies per year.

How Do Ectopic Pregnancies Occur?

Ectopic pregnancies occur when a fertilised egg implants outside the uterus, typically in the fallopian tube.

Is Anyone At Higher Risk Of Having Ectopic Pregnancies?

Women who have a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, previous ectopic pregnancies, specific pelvic surgeries and have had fertility treatments or are using an intrauterine device to prevent pregnancy are at higher risk of having ectopic pregnancies.

What Are The Symptoms Of An Ectopic Pregnancy?

Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy usually develop between the 4th and 12th weeks of pregnancy, and they can include vaginal bleeding, tummy pain, shoulder tip pain and discomfort when going to the toilet.

How Is An Ectopic Pregnancy Diagnosed?

If you display symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy and you have a positive pregnancy test, you may be sent for further testing, including: a vaginal ultrasound, blood tests and keyhole surgery.

How Can An Ectopic Pregnancy Be Treated?

Ectopic pregnancy can be treated by firstly monitoring your condition, then a medicine called methotrexate or surgery to remove the pregnancy.

Please get in touch with our advisors so you can take the first step to secure compensation for ectopic pregnancy negligence.

More Information

Some more guides by us: 

• Did your ectopic pregnancy negligence happen in a hospital? Read our guide on claiming for poor care in a hospital. 
• Or did your GP demonstrate an inadequate standard of care? Read our guide on making a GP negligence claim. 
• Have you suffered unnecessary or avoidable harm during birth? Read our guide on birth injury compensation claims. 

Some additional resources: 

• Learn how to claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you need time off work to recover with this Government guide.
• Are you struggling to navigate the emotional challenges that come with losing a pregnancy? Have a read on how to cope after a miscarriage from the NHS.
• Was your doctor involved in your ectopic pregnancy negligence? Read up on the professional standards doctors need to meet from the General Medical Council.

Thank you for taking the time to read our guide on ectopic pregnancy negligence. We hope you have found it instructive.