Stillbirth is defined by the Cleveland Clinic as a fetal death that occurs at 20 weeks of gestation or more. However, the official medical definition cannot begin to describe the devastation that families experience when a stillbirth occurs.
Stillbirth can change the direction of a family’s life forever. When this tragedy happens to you or to someone that you love, you must understand what your rights are. If the death of your baby resulted from medical negligence, Gill Ports Hoste LLC is here for you.
Our firm prides itself on providing compassionate, knowledgeable advocacy for families going through one of the most difficult times in their lives. Our Chicago stillbirth attorneys have been working for more than 90 years to get justice for those harmed by doctors, and we’ve recovered millions.
We are ready to put our knowledge of the law to work to help you get the compensation you need to rebuild. To schedule your free consultation and learn more about the legal representation we can offer, give us a call or contact us online today.
Common causes of stillbirth
Stillbirth can happen for many different reasons. While in some cases, it is an unavoidable tragedy, often medical negligence is involved. Some of the most common causes of stillbirth that can result in a malpractice claim include:
- Failure to diagnose and respond to a maternal medical condition: OBGYNS and midwives who provide prenatal care must monitor for conditions like maternal infection, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia, as these medical issues can increase the risk of stillbirth.
- Failure to monitor the baby: An infant must be monitored during pregnancy and can be harmed by failure to monitor fetal movement, ignoring signs of fetal distress, such as an abnormal heart rate, and a failure to recognize intrauterine growth restriction
- Mistakes during labor and delivery: An OBGYN who lets labor continue for too long or when there are signs of distress could be liable for a stillbirth that results, as could a doctor who misuses delivery tools like forceps or vacuum extractors.
- Not recognizing risk factors: Doctors must recognize when they are out of their depth. For example, multiple pregnancies with complications like twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome should result in referral to a specialist.
In many of these cases, the stillbirth could potentially have been prevented with proper medical care. The doctor who failed to provide it, and sometimes their employer, can be held liable for losses.
Why turn to Gill Ports Hoste LLC in medical negligence claims?
Gill Ports Hoste LLC is the firm to turn to when your family experiences a stillbirth. You should trust our team to represent you in these difficult situations because:
- We treat your case with the importance it deserves. We have a long history of satisfied clients because we commit to treating every client with compassion. Our firm offers the personalized service only a small firm can offer, while also providing the legal expertise and strong network of witnesses that only larger firms can provide.
- We have a track record of success. Our attorneys are among a limited number in Illinois who have recovered multiple verdicts in excess of $10 million. We understand how to make compelling claims, and while your case facts determine the appropriate compensation, we can maximize your chances of recovering the largest possible verdict or court settlement.
Contact a Chicago stillbirth attorney today
Don’t hesitate to get help when you have suffered the loss of your child. Contact a Chicago stillbirth attorney at Gill Ports Hoste LLC to get personalized, compassionate representation so you can get justice. Give us a call or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help.