Articles Posted in Obstetrician Malpractice

Shoulder dystocia occurs when, during childbirth, the baby’s shoulders get stuck on the mother’s pelvis bones after delivery of the head. This complication is considered an obstetric emergency and, if it is not dealt with quickly, serious injury can occur to both the pregnant woman and the baby. Indeed, if during shoulder dystocia the umbilical cord is compressed for even a short time, the baby can die. Significant risk factors for shoulder dystocia include gestational diabetes, excessive weight gain and post-term pregnancies.

Over the years, I have successfully handled a number of medical malpractice birth injury cases. The birth of a child should be an exciting and happy occasion for all parents. Especially for new parents, labor and delivery can be scary and intimidating, and that is why parents trust their doctors and nurses to perform to the best of their abilities and provide excellent medical care. This means putting their own lives and their child’s life in the hands of medical staff and trusting that everyone will be happy and healthy. Sadly, the doctors and nurses who are responsible for delivering babies sometimes can endanger the health and safety of both baby and mom through mistakes and inattention. These injuries happen far too often and can result in irreparable harm to the baby prior to and during delivery. Birth injuries can have significant consequences on a child’s health and future, and on a family who must cope with the financial hardships of raising a child with a severe disability or condition.

Over the years, I have represented a number of families who have suffered catastrophic consequences of childbirth. A recent news report discusses two cases that very similar to cases that I have successful handled.

Patients place incredible trust in their physicians and medical professionals when they visit hospitals for identifying or treating a medical problem. That trust comes with a responsibility on the part of the medical team, from doctors to nurses and nurse’s assistants, to conduct themselves in a reasonably careful manner under the circumstances. Patients cannot always expect perfection or treatment free of risk, but they do have the right to expect reasonable and safe care from the medical staff. When a physician or any medical staffer fails to provide that level of care, victims should consider a medical malpractice lawsuit so that they can have the financial ability to pay for extensive medical care that medical negligence can cost.

When most hear about complications during childbirth most immediately think of the child. Obviously the birthing process is a delicate one, and infants are quite vulnerable to long-term harm that results from prolonged oxygen deprivation, the applications of excess force, and other incidents. However, it is important not to forget that mothers are just as susceptible to serious injury and even death caused by problems during childbirth. In fact, according to some recent reports, the most serious maternal complications are actually on the rise in the United States.

The birth of a child is supposed to be one of the happiest moments in the life of a family. Unfortunately, for some the memorable occasions turns into a nightmare. That is because, at rates far higher than many suspect, childbirth can result in complications and injuries to the mother or child. Because of the delicate nature of the situation, when a new child is hurt during birth, the consequences are often quite severe. Birth injuries can prove to cause lifelong harm and can even be fatal.

A Buffalo, New York jury has awarded a couple $845,000 in a medical malpractice case against two obstetricians, after a three week trial. The plaintiffs claimed that the woman had to have an emergency hysterectomy after she started bleeding heavily after giving birth to a healthy son. The plaintiffs argued that the doctors should have hastened the mother’s labor, which lasted 20 plus hours, to prevent the bleeding.