Medical Malpractice and Delayed C-section
Many pregnant women feel nervous as they approach their due date. However, with good medical care, most deliveries go smoothly, and there is a healthy newborn baby as a reward. Unfortunately, if medical staff is neglectful during labor, things can get more complicated.
Delayed c-sections are one of the most common forms of medical malpractice during labor. Medical malpractice involving a delayed c-section threatens the health of both mother and child. Individuals in the Lakeland, FL, or Winter Haven, FL, area who have suffered damages as the result of a delayed c-section can work with medical malpractice lawyer Daniel D. Moody to hold negligent medical providers accountable for their damages.
When Are C-sections Necessary?
Many women go into labor with a birth plan that they’d like to follow. While medical professionals should respect that plan, their ultimate priority lies with the health and safety of the mother and child. Although a woman may want to avoid a c-section, it is sometimes medically necessary. A c-section may be required if these complications develop:
- Difficult birth/delivery
- Stalled labor
- Fetal distress
- Uterine rupture
- Placenta previa (the placenta blocks the baby’s path through the birth canal)
- Cephalopelvic disproportion (the baby’s head is too large to fit through the pelvis)
- Umbilical cord problems
Defining Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is a legal term that is used to describe negligent medical care, or medical care that fails to meet up to the accepted standard. The accepted standard of care is the level of care that someone could expect to receive from a similarly trained medical professional who is faced with the same set of circumstances. To file a medical malpractice claim, patients need to not only receive substandard medical care, but also suffer injuries and losses as a result of that negligence.
In terms of delayed c-sections, if a medical provider failed to monitor the mother and child during labor, was neglectful in ordering a necessary c-section, and if the mother or child suffered injuries as a result, there is likely grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Potential Complications of Delayed C-sections
A delayed c-section can lead to a wide range of complications and injuries. Both a mother and child’s health is at risk when birthing complications occur. Failing to respond to complications in a timely manner, or delaying a c-section, can result in injuries such as:
- Oxygen deprivation
- Brain injuries/brain damage
- Cardiac arrest
- Maternal hemorrhaging
- Damage to the uterus and/or pelvis
- Transmission of bacterial infection from mother to child
The severity of these injuries vary. Some may cause short-term damages while others can result in long-term complications for the mother or child. If injuries are a result of medical malpractice, our Lakeland legal team can help clients hold medical professionals accountable for any associated losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact Us
If you or your child suffered injuries during birth, attorney Daniel D. Moody can examine the details of your situation to determine if there is grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. To learn more about your legal options, send us a message at your earliest convenience or call (863) 284-9090 to set up a consultation.