Preeclampsia is a serious and potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication. When doctors and hospitals fail to diagnose or treat it properly, the results can be devastating for both mother and child. Families are often left coping with medical trauma, prolonged hospital stays, and lasting uncertainty about their baby’s health.
At Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP, our attorneys represent families across New York who have suffered harm due to medical negligence during pregnancy and childbirth. Led by Edward Ruffo and Thomas Giuffra, some of New York’s most respected birth injury lawyers, we handle complex preeclampsia malpractice cases with skill, compassion, and technical depth.
Our goal is to help families find answers, accountability, and financial recovery under New York law.
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder characterized by high blood pressure and damage to organs such as the liver or kidneys. It typically develops after the 20th week of pregnancy and can progress rapidly if not properly managed.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), preeclampsia affects about 2 to 8 percent of pregnancies in the United States. When left untreated, it can cause seizures (eclampsia), stroke, organ failure, or death. It is also a leading cause of preterm birth, fetal distress, and stillbirth.
Timely diagnosis and intervention can prevent the most serious complications. When a medical provider fails to recognize or treat preeclampsia, that failure may constitute medical malpractice under New York law.
While preeclampsia can occur in any pregnancy, certain risk factors make some women more vulnerable. These include:
Regardless of risk, physicians must provide appropriate monitoring for all pregnant patients. Routine prenatal care should include blood pressure screening, urine testing for protein, and follow-up on abnormal results. Failure to perform or interpret these standard tests can support a claim of negligence.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a trusted New York birth injury attorney. We will review your case, explain your options, and guide your family toward recovery.
Early signs of preeclampsia are often detectable through careful observation and patient reporting. Medical professionals must act quickly when symptoms arise, including:
When these warning signs appear, healthcare providers should conduct immediate testing, monitor fetal health, and determine whether early delivery is necessary to protect both the mother and the child. Failure to act can lead to preventable injury or death.
The cornerstone of preeclampsia management is early detection and consistent monitoring. Proper care can include:
When physicians follow these standards, serious complications can often be avoided. Conversely, delayed recognition or mismanagement can result in lifelong harm. Families may have legal recourse when a doctor’s inaction, error, or misjudgment causes injury that proper care could have prevented.
Not every adverse outcome is malpractice, but a provider may be liable when their care falls below accepted medical standards. Examples include:
Under New York Civil Practice Law and Rules, patients generally have two years and six months from the date of malpractice or discovery of the injury to file a claim. Cases involving minors or ongoing treatment may extend that deadline, but timely legal review is essential.
The consequences of undiagnosed or mismanaged preeclampsia can be life-altering.
For mothers:
For infants:
When medical negligence causes these outcomes, families may pursue a preeclampsia birth injury claim to secure financial resources for long-term care and treatment.
You may be eligible to file a lawsuit if you or your child suffered injuries because a healthcare provider failed to diagnose, treat, or manage preeclampsia according to accepted standards of care. Eligible plaintiffs typically include the injured mother, the child through a legal guardian, or surviving family members in wrongful death cases.
To establish malpractice, your attorney must show that:
Expert testimony from obstetricians or maternal-fetal specialists is often necessary to confirm that the provider’s actions—or failure to act—fell below the professional standard of care.
Strong documentation is critical. Key evidence may include:
Our attorneys coordinate with respected medical experts to review all relevant materials and determine whether negligence occurred.
A successful preeclampsia medical malpractice lawsuit may provide compensation for both economic and non-economic losses, including:
While financial recovery cannot undo the trauma families have experienced, it can help provide the resources necessary for long-term support and medical care.
If you or your baby suffered harm because preeclampsia was not properly diagnosed or treated, you deserve answers and the best advocate you can find. Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP is here to help you understand your rights and pursue justice.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a trusted New York birth injury attorney. We will review your case, explain your options, and guide your family toward recovery.
Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP has represented birth injury victims throughout New York for more than four decades. Our attorneys understand the complexity of preeclampsia cases and the emotional toll they take on families.
Led by Thomas Giuffra, our team combines legal skill with compassion and a trauma-informed approach. We collaborate with medical specialists, review every record, and prepare each case meticulously to secure the best possible outcome.
Our case results include substantial recoveries for families affected by medical negligence. Each case is handled with the time, care, and resources required to pursue justice.
You generally have two years and six months from the date of malpractice or from discovery of the injury to file under CPLR § 214-a. Cases involving minors or ongoing treatment may extend this period.
Yes. Both individual providers and institutions can be held liable if they contributed to the negligent care.
Our attorneys review medical records, test results, and expert evaluations to determine whether your doctor or hospital failed to meet accepted medical standards.
Compensation may cover medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, emotional suffering, and long-term care expenses.
The duration depends on case complexity, expert reviews, and whether a settlement or trial is required. Many cases take one to three years to resolve.
If you or your baby suffered harm because preeclampsia was not properly diagnosed or treated, you deserve answers and the best advocate you can find. Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP is here to help you understand your rights and pursue justice.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a trusted New York birth injury attorney. We will review your case, explain your options, and guide your family toward recovery.
