When healthcare providers fail to monitor an expectant mother’s blood pressure, blood loss, and other symptoms during and after childbirth, the resulting lack of proper maternal fetal medicine can be fatal for the mother. Though most women in the U.S. give birth without problems, about 50,000 suffer a life-threatening injury and around 700 die. Experts believe that at least half of these injuries and deaths are preventable but not without the mothers receiving adequate maternal fetal medicine. It’s a devastating fact that the U.S. leads developing nations in deaths and injuries to mothers related to childbirth.
When a woman’s blood pressure is not monitored closely before, during, and after childbirth, they may lose so much blood that their organs shut down. If their blood pressure climbs to high, they may suffer a stroke. Untreated blood infections or blood clots can be fatal. Even if the mother survives one or more of these conditions, they may be left with permanent paralysis or the inability to give birth to more children. The greatest tragedy is that these conditions and losses can often be avoided because the technology and medical knowledge available to hospitals, doctors, and support staff are widely known and easily available. When healthcare mechanisms fail and subsequently lead to a serious or fatal injury, those responsible should be held accountable.
Preventing Mechanisms of Injury
Healthcare providers have a legal and moral responsibility to provide patients with a recognized standard of care. They can be held liable if they fail to take the same actions that other caregivers would under similar circumstances. Preventing the mechanisms that lead to injury of the birth mother is paramount in eliminating deaths and injuries that are otherwise avoidable. When a birth injury lawyer from our firm accepts a case, he or she will consider every possibility in determining if and how a healthcare provider failed in their duty to care for their patient. This includes their responsibility to prevent mechanisms of injury by ensuring the following:
- Locating medical supplies and equipment near the mother should she experience a life-threatening condition such as internal bleeding, hemorrhaging, high or low blood pressure.
- Doctors and nurses on all hospital shifts should be trained on how to recognize and properly respond to common injuries and emergencies and how to administer maternal fetal medicine as appropriate.
- Doctors and nurses should monitor expecting mothers closely from the time they are admitted, during the delivery, and after the birth until the mothers are discharged. In some cases, post-birth monitoring may be necessary if there were complications during or after the birth. For example, if there was higher than normal but not immediately life-threatening blood loss, then the doctor should determine if the mother should remain in the hospital for observation.
Preventing Injuries and Fatalities Related to Childbirth
Families who have suffered the loss of a loved one during childbirth, or who are struggling to deal with an avoidable injury, have legal options for seeking justice. A lawyer represents those who received inadequate maternal fetal medicine that resulted in losses; call today for a free consultation with an experienced birth injury attorney.