Cesarean Section Medical Malpractice

Throughout labor and delivery, a child’s health should be monitored closely.  Fetal monitoring strips are used by hospitals to gather information about the heart rate of the child.  Obstetricians and other health professionals use this information to monitor the child’s progress.  If there are signs of fetal distress, it is important that obstetricians take action immediately to deliver the child.  Within minutes of recognizing fetal distress, most hospitals should be able to deliver the child via cesarean section (C-section).  If the child in fetal distress is not delivered via C-section, the child could suffer from brain damage, cerebral palsy, or have profound developmental disabilities.  Injuries such as these can alter a child’s life.

In the United States, about 30% of births in the United States are through C-section.  Some of those C-sections are planned, while others are done after the woman is already and labor and is in danger or the baby is showing signs of fetal distress.  When this is the case, a delay can create a dangerous situation.  The failure to perform a C-section in a timely manner is often caused by:

• Failure to recognize fetal distress
• Failure to monitor the mother and child closely during late pregnancy and labor
• Failure of the hospital or doctor to perform the procedure timely

Emergency C-sections may be necessary when:

• There is breech presentation (baby is not turned to facilitate vaginal delivery)
• Labor has been delayed or stopped
• The fetal heart rate changes
• There are low oxygen levels in the fetus
• There are signs of fetal distress
• There are umbilical cord problems

If any of the above occurs, the attending staff should be alerted of the possible need to perform an immediate, emergency C-section.  Medical professions should proceed with caution.

If a C-section is delayed, birth injuries may occur, including:

• Bone fracture
• Cerebral Palsy
• Fetal brain damage
• HIE
• Stillbirth

When injuries were caused by the doctor’s negligence, a successful medical malpractice case can help a parent obtain the money needed to address their child’s special needs and help the child to live the best possible life.  Contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney to evaluate your case and protect your rights.

But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.