When Is a Doctor Responsible for a Mother’s Injuries During Birth?

 Posted on May 14, 2020 in Maternal Injuries

Many expectant mothers wait for their delivery date with anticipation, excitement, and trepidation. While everyone hopes for a smooth delivery, unfortunately, this does not always happen. A variety of complications during the birthing process can result in serious injuries or death to the mother. While some maternal injuries are unavoidable, there are some cases in which they could have been prevented. Patients who have suffered injuries during birth and their family members will likely want to determine who may have been responsible for these types of injuries. 

Common Injuries to a Mother During Labor and Delivery

There are many different things that can go wrong during the birth of a child. Doctors, nurses, or other medical staff must carefully monitor the mother and the infant for signs that could indicate a health concern. If a complication arises, staff must be ready to take swift action to fix it. Common maternal injuries include but are not limited to:

• Infection: Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens can cause dangerous infections or sepsis in the mother or infant.

• Miscarriage/stillbirth: Fetal death can be caused by a wide variety of problems, including lack of oxygen during the delivery.

• Preeclampsia: High blood pressure experienced by a mother during pregnancy or birth can lead to a stroke or damage to internal organs.  

• Amniotic fluid embolism: When amniotic fluid or other material from the uterus enters the mother’s bloodstream, this can sometimes lead to respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, or severe hemorrhaging of blood.

• Uterine rupture: A spontaneous tearing of the uterus can cause the fetus to be expelled into the peritoneal cavity, leading to fetal death and/or serious injury to the mother.

• Vaginal lacerations: When a mother’s vaginal tissue tears during delivery, and these injuries are not treated properly, infections, hemorrhaging, and other medical conditions can occur. 

• Postpartum hemorrhage: Hemorrhage, or major blood loss, during delivery can lead to organ failure or even brain damage.

Liability for Injuries to the Mother During Birth

Sometimes, problems arise during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, and doctors and medical staff fail to respond appropriately. A doctor may be considered liable for a patient’s injury if he or she deviated from the “medical standard of care,” and this deviation caused the patient’s injuries. The medical standard of care refers to the actions that a reasonably skilled doctor of similar expertise would have taken in a similar situation. A physician may be responsible for a mother’s injuries if he or she failed to recognize or properly treat any medical complications that arose at any time during the pregnancy or birth. Determining whether a doctor acted negligently during birth can be extremely difficult. However, an experienced attorney can uncover information about the birth, consult with medical experts, and analyze the details of a case in order to determine whether negligence was a factor in maternal birth injuries.

Contact a Cook County Birth Injury Lawyer

Even if a woman had a normal pregnancy, complications can arise during labor and delivery. While a newborn infant is often the doctor’s main priority during a birth, careful attention must also be paid to the mother’s health and well-being. Failure to provide the proper care can lead to a mother being seriously injured or killed during the birthing process. If you or a loved one has suffered a maternal birth injury, contact the Birth Injury Law Alliance. Call our office today at 312-462-4200 to schedule a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable Chicago medical malpractice attorneys.

Source:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3088386/