While the birth of a baby should be a joyful experience, sadly, there are many things that can go wrong during the labor and delivery process. This is why it is so important to have medical support from professionals who can monitor the mother and child and provide a professional level of care.
Unfortunately, medical negligence during childbirth is a leading cause of birth injury and a significant risk factor for fetal and maternal mortality. If you or your child experienced an injury during the labor and delivery process, you need to understand when and how the injury occurred and whether your care provider fell short.
That’s because, if your provider failed you, they could be liable for your losses.
Gill Ports Hoste LLC can help you to identify whether medical negligence occurred and to take appropriate legal action in these difficult situations. You can give us a call to schedule your free consultation today with a Chicago birth injury lawyer to learn how we can advocate for you throughout your claim.
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You can also read on to learn about some troubling signs of medical negligence that suggest your provider may have failed you.
1. Failure to properly monitor for signs of fetal distress
Monitoring the baby’s condition is one of the most important roles medical care providers play during childbirth. Providers should monitor the baby’s heart rate, movement, and oxygen level during the entire birthing process and should respond quickly to any signs of distress.
A failure to do so could result in oxygen deprivation to the brain and other life-changing and sometimes life-ending complications.
2. Allowing labor to continue for too long
Prolonged labor can increase the risk of birth injuries, especially if the doctor allows a birthing mother to continue to labor despite signs of fetal or maternal distress.
As soon as there are indications that the mother or baby are at risk, it becomes important for a care provider to use their professional judgment to determine when they must order a Cesarean section.
A failure to move quickly enough to deliver the baby via C-section can result in hypoxia (a lack of oxygen) and other serious injuries.
3. Improper medication use
If a laboring mother is administered the wrong dose or type of medication, both the mother and baby could be at serious risk of harm.
If the mother or baby suffered an adverse reaction to pain medications, medications used to speed up labor, or other drugs, it becomes important to determine if an error was made.
4. Improper use of delivery tools
Tools like forceps and vacuum extractors can help deliver a baby safely when used properly. However, if these tools are used incorrectly or too aggressively, this failure can put the mother and baby in jeopardy. Serious complications can result, including potential nerve injuries and brain damage.
Getting help from a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer
If something goes wrong during your birth, identifying the signs of medical negligence can be a highly technical process.
Gill Ports Hoste LLC has been representing malpractice victims for over 100 years, and we can help you determine if your doctor, the hospital, or other healthcare providers can be held liable for your losses.
Give us a call or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation and find out more about how we can help you.