A healthy pregnancy is no guarantee that a woman will have an uncomplicated childbirth. During labor and delivery, complications that cause injury to the mother and baby can arise. That is why patients must be closely monitored by the healthcare professionals in charge of their care. Modern technology has made it possible to monitor the vital signs of both mother and baby during the labor and delivery process. Potential problems can be diagnosed and treated much more quickly, to prevent greater harm.
If you or your baby have suffered injury because of your doctor’s negligence or carelessness, you may be able to recover financial compensation for your injury. Youman & Caputo can help you navigate the legal process to make a claim and get you and your child the compensation to which you are entitled. Call us today at (215) 302-1999 to schedule your free consultation.
Fetal distress is a complication of labor. It happens when the baby does not receive enough oxygen during pregnancy or labor. It occurs more commonly during labor. In some cases, a cesarean section is necessary to prevent harm and save the life of the mother and baby.
Fetal distress can be caused by conditions in the uterus during labor, but the mother’s health during pregnancy can be a factor. Some of the causes of fetal distress are:
Other causes related to the mother’s health include:
A fetal distress diagnosis is usually made by monitoring the baby’s heartbeat. This is usually done during pregnancy and labor. During labor the baby’s heartbeat is constantly monitored for signs of fetal distress such as a slow or irregular heart rate.
Signs of meconium in the amniotic fluid can also be an indication of fetal distress.
Prompt diagnosis of fetal distress during labor can prevent injury to the baby such as cerebral palsy or death. A cesarean section is often required when a fetal distress diagnosis is made. Delayed fetal distress diagnosis can put the life of both the mother and baby at risk or cause life-altering injuries.
Typically, during pregnancy, a woman’s care is provided by one doctor, her obstetrician. During labor, there might be more than one person responsible for the care of the mother and safe delivery of the baby.
During labor you can expect a few different health care professionals caring for you until you give birth. Depending on the hospital or facility where you give birth, you may have a doctor or midwife, a labor and delivery nurse, an anesthesiologist, an OB tech, and other medical professionals present. They all have different roles to play and they work together to ensure a safe delivery of mother and baby.
When something goes wrong, it may be difficult to identify one person as being responsible for the failures that resulted in injury. A thorough investigation of your medical records is needed to try to reveal who is responsible for the injury your baby suffered because of a delayed fetal distress diagnosis. A formal process may be required to obtain these records, and a medical malpractice lawyer can help you with the process. An experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer will also consult with highly qualified experts who can assess the care that you received against the standard of care expected in your case.
Keep in mind that not all mistakes rise to the level of medical malpractice. To successfully claim for medical malpractice, the care you received must be below the standard, and the medical professionals must have failed to act as expected of a reasonable physician with the same experience and qualifications.
It does happen even in medical malpractice cases that a defendant will try to blame a victim. The defendants may try to shift some of the blame to reduce their legal liability.
In Pennsylvania, a victim can still get compensation for their injury caused by the negligence of another person, as long as their level of fault is not greater than the causal negligence of the defendants. However, the defendant will only be responsible for the percentage of the damages that they caused. Our Philadelphia birth injury attorneys are ready to fight for justice for you and your injured child.
Medical malpractice is a complex and challenging area of law. You need a lawyer who has experience in delayed fetal distress diagnosis claims in Philadelphia and whose credentials include securing record-breaking verdicts and settlements for their clients. The team at Youman & Caputo will put their years of experience to work for you. To find out if you have a case or to get more information, contact us today at (215) 302-1999 to schedule a free consultation.
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