Giving birth to a child is one of life’s most precious and sacred moments. With all the physical and emotional tolls that come with childbirth, you and your partner are understandably anxious to finally be able to bring a new life into this world. Unfortunately, there are many ways that things can go wrong during the birth of a child. Sometimes, through all the work done by your medical team, there is no way to avoid certain adverse outcomes.
However, if something unexpected and harmful does occur during childbirth and the baby or delivering mother suffers an injury, medical malpractice could be the cause. If you have concerns that a doctor, nurse, OB/GYN, or other medical professional did not exercise the appropriate level of care at any point during the pregnancy or delivery of your child, then you should have the facts and medical records reviewed with experienced medical malpractice attorneys such as Mitchell Feldman, Esq. Feldman Legal Group will be able to determine if pursuing a legal claim of medical negligence against the medical professionals responsible for the harm would be in the best interests of you and your baby.
Causes of childbirth negligence can often look like causes of other cases of medical malpractice. Doctors might have overlooked signs of a medical condition that could cause serious complications or prescribed incorrect medication. There are many causes of generic malpractice, including file mix-ups. Illnesses or infections acquired during a hospital stay are always a potential danger for infants and mothers.
There are certain injuries that are exclusive to childbirth, though. A few examples are:
- Fractured or broken bones
- Cerebral palsy
- Brachial plexus fracture
- Brain and spinal injuries
The following are some ways that medical professionals might commit malpractice during or leading up to childbirth:
- Not conducting proper tests, such as an amniocentesis, that can monitor the baby’s progress and health inside the womb
- Not anticipating complications from a larger-than-average baby
- Not recognizing fetal distress (baby is deprived of oxygen in the womb)
- Not ordering a C-section when certain conditions might warrant that method
- Not correcting a tangled or trapped umbilical cord
Statute of Limitations
Florida law states that the statute of limitations for bringing a claim arising from medical malpractice during childbirth is two or four years, depending on the actual claim you are bringing against a doctor, hospital, or medical team. At any rate, time is of the essence when you are pursuing a medical malpractice claim.
Contact Feldman Legal Group
Medical malpractice cases are extremely complex; it is imperative that you retain the services of a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney for you to have the best chance at a favorable outcome. Get in touch with Feldman Legal Group soon so we can begin working on your case.
