I would still be inclined to complain even though it has been a while, after all how can anything be changed or improved if we don't. I also think it's easy to say you should get a second opinion but when someone with 20 years experience, who is in a position of authority and respect tells you something like this of course you are going to believe them!

I'm really glad everything is going well with the pregnancy now, if you take 10 minutes to write a letter of complaint now you can put this all behind you and get on with enjoying the rest of your pregnancy without it praying at the back of your mind - that's how I would feel about it anyway! :\)

I would definitely write a letter of complaint Sara1984. Don't think of the person who made the mistake, the whole episode needs investigating to find out why things went so wrong. Think of it as a way of preventing it happening to someone else rather than putting blame at someone's feet (although there is no excuse for misdiagnosing a miscarriage). I am a doctor myself and had to write a complaint to my local hospital after an A&E dr refused to give me anti d after I'd had some spotting. It resulted in the whole department receiving further training. I just can't believe an experienced person could miss a fetal heart, I mean, even I could see one on my 6 week embryo! Thank goodness you opted for a natural management, the thought of what would have happened otherwise makes me sick. Good luck for the rest of your preg, not long now!

Lynne 29 + 5 XXX

I work in the NHS and used to manage a Maternity Unit, I would encourage a complaint to be made as we really do take them very seriously and undertake full investigations.
I agree with others that I would not use unless I needed the money as a consequence of a mistake that had been made. The money you would get from a pay out would be coming directly from the NHS budget so the only people that would lose out would be us as patients.
I agree that the jobs these professionals hold are responsible ones but I think everyone can make mistakes in their jobs. Making a complaint would ensure that there is some double checking mechanism in place so that it could not happen again. If I had a scan and got bad news I would want another one done before making any decisions.
Really sorry this happened to you Sara.xx

I think emmj sums up my thoughts on this too (I am a bit bemused by some of the other replies to be honest). Whilst I don't agree with claiming compensation from the NHS (unless it is necessary to provide care etc.) reporting the incident is simply the responsible thing to do.
You don't sound like you're being driven by money or the desire for revenge, but you want to ensure that this doesn't happen again to someone who may take a different path to you. I don't think my conscience would let me just 'move-on' when there is potentially a major problem with such an important procedure. I think if you are looking to make a decision you should ask yourself how you would feel if you found out that this has happened to someone recently before you and they had taken no action.
As others have said, mistakes are sadly made, so unless this wasn't a one-off I doubt that this would result in any individual being sacked, but the bigger picture is surely far more important anyway?
I am so, so glad that things worked out as they did for you, best of luck.
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