While the majority of labor and deliveries are free from complications, occasionally difficulties arise. How physicians or other health professionals react to a situation and the steps they take can have a profound impact on the health of the mother and the child.
For example, in some circumstances when a delivery is failing to progress, signs may indicate fetal distress warranting prompt action – such as delivering the child via emergency c-section. However, if the medical staff fails to properly monitor, identify and communicate the need for rapid intervention, the child may suffer harm. Further, even if the staff properly communicates signals indicating the need for prompt action, the failure of a physician to identify the proper course of treatment and take immediate steps, can have tragic results.
Certain birth injuries such as cerebral palsy and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy have been linked to decreased oxygen and blood flow to the brain of a newborn. In some situations, the injury could not have been prevented, however other times where doctors, nurses or other health care staff act negligently by fail to act in accordance with the appropriate standard of care, they may be held accountable for the harm caused by their negligence in an action for medical negligence.
The lack of adequate medical care during and after the birth of a child is considered medical malpractice and can result in long-term complications. For more information or if you believe that your child was harmed as the result of medical negligence, please contact the experienced California birth injury lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.