If you believe that a physician committed an error while treating you or a loved one, our Harrisburg labor and delivery negligence attorneys are here to help. With over 30 years of medical malpractice experience, our attorneys have helped numerous clients stand up to insurance companies in complex medical matters. When a healthcare provider commits a mistake, you should consider speaking to legal counsel.
Common Labor and Delivery Mistakes
With both the mother and child requiring medical attention during labor and delivery, the following physician errors may occur:
Improper Fetal Monitoring
The normal range for an infant’s heart rate is between 120 to 160 beats per minute. An OB/GYN or labor or delivery nurse will get a “baseline” reading of your baby’s heart rate by hooking you up to an electronic fetal monitor when you are in labor. While slight variations are usually not a cause for concern, any variations in heart rate of at least 15 beats per minute that last for 15 seconds or longer should be addressed. A healthcare provider who fails to monitor your baby properly may be held liable.
Improper Use of Delivery Instruments
A healthcare provider must be trained in using forceps and ventouse suction cups (for vacuum extractions). Both alternatives to cesarean (C-sections) and ventouse suction cups are more commonly used over forceps.
While both are used to assist vaginal deliveries in the final stage, the indications to use each differ. Forceps are used when the baby is positioned awkwardly within the birth canal. At the same time, a vacuum extraction delivery is used when the mother is exhausted or if the infant has a non-reassuring heart rate (greater than 160 beats per minute). A physician who is improperly trained or not trained in using these instruments may be subject to liability.
Delay in Performing a Cesarean Section (C-Section)
An infant that is in fetal distress may require surgical intervention in the form of a C-section. An OB/GYN who fails to perform a C-section promptly places the baby at risk of permanent neurological damage. In some cases, both the infant and mother may face potentially life-threatening risks.
Types of Birth Injuries
An infant may experience any of the following birth injuries:
Cerebral Palsy
A neurological disorder that causes difficulty with movement and posture. It is typically the result of oxygen deprivation during birth. Symptoms include exaggerated movements, floppy limbs, and speech problems.
Erb’s Palsy
Damage to the brachial plexus (network of shoulder nerves controlling the shoulder, arm, and hand). Symptoms include arm paralysis, tingling in the arm or hand, and an inability to bend the elbow. When it is caused by a physician excessively pulling on an infant’s head and shoulders during delivery, you may be eligible to file a malpractice claim.
Speak with a Harrisburg Labor and Delivery Negligence Attorney Today
Our team of medical malpractice professionals has seen various negligence cases arising from carelessness in the delivery room. If you have suffered injuries due to a physician’s failure to maintain the expected standard of care, please reach out to our office. To schedule your complimentary consultation, contact us online or by phone today.