A GP highly experienced in antenatal care has been rapped for missing an ectopic pregnancy after she miscalculated the gestational stage of her patient’s pregnancy.

The Sydney-based doctor failed to consider ectopic pregnancy after her patient’s pelvic ultrasound revealed an empty uterus and she incorrectly calculated she was only 2-3 weeks pregnant, according to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

In fact, the patient was around 6-7 weeks pregnant, based on the results of an earlier beta-hCG test ordered by the GP. Some 12 days later the patient underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and suffered serious complications.

In findings handed down last week, the tribunal said the error occurred after the GP took an inadequate history of the woman’s last normal period and wrongly concluded her most recent beta-hCG levels were “promising” for a viable pregnancy of 2-3 weeks.