What Constitutes Medical Negligence During Childbirth?

So many problems can occur during labor and delivery, often as a result of medical malpractice. If your child was diagnosed with a birth injury, you can work with a medical malpractice attorney to assess the possibility that medical negligence caused the health problem. Sometimes, a medical malpractice lawyer may file a lawsuit on the basis of negligent prenatal care. For example, a physician may have failed to diagnose the mother with contagious disease, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, anemia, or other medical condition that can affect the health of the fetus.

Negligence also frequently occurs during labor and delivery. For example, the healthcare team may fail to properly monitor the fetal heart rate or they may fail to respond appropriately to signs of fetal distress. This may lead to a delay in ordering an emergency C-section when one is needed. Other birth injuries occur because the obstetrician failed to properly use instruments such as vacuum extractors or forceps, which can cause the child to develop serious disabilities.

Families of children who have been diagnosed with birth injuries can turn to Pegalis & Erickson for legal guidance. To schedule an appointment with a birth injury lawyer in Long Island, New York, call (516) 684-2900.