Labor induction is sometimes required if delaying birth could be dangerous to you or your child. In some pregnancies, a doctor may recommend labor induction for convenience, especially if you live far from the hospital. Although labor induction is a common procedure, it does carry risks. When medical mistakes are made before or during induction, those risks increase for both you and your child. Here are some risks of labor induction:

Increased Need for C-Section
After labor induction, the risk of needing a C-section increases. First-time mothers whose cervixes have not dilated appropriately may need a C-section after induction. Having a C-section introduces more risks into the delivery and recovery process, including an increased risk of infection for both you and your baby. It also extends the time it takes to recover from giving birth.

Reduced Heart Rate
When labor is induced, the medication used can cause many contractions. In addition to being painful, having too many contractions can lower your baby’s heart rate by reducing the supply of oxygen to the baby’s brain. Low heart rate and low oxygen levels can lead to birth injuries and other complications that can have lifelong effects for your child if there was a lack of proper medical monitoring and treatment.

Increased Risk of Post-Delivery Bleeding
Inducing labor increases the risk of a serious condition called uterine atony, which causes dangerous hemorrhaging. Uterine atony occurs when the uterus doesn’t contract properly after giving birth. Labor induction increases the risk of uterine atony which happens more often after induction. Do you think you experienced an avoidable complication during labor induction? Do you believe your labor was unnecessarily induced, putting you at risk? Contact our experienced medical malpractice attorneys in New York at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC. If you have concerns please call us at (516) 684-2900.

Many expecting mothers look forward to their due dates with as much apprehension as excitement and joy. The experience of welcoming a child into the world is unlike any other, but there are so many things that can go wrong. In some cases, the obstetrician, midwife, or attending nurses may neglect to recommend a cesarean section when it is medically necessary. There is no substitute for quality medical care, and the consequences of medical malpractice can change a child’s life forever.

Planned C-Sections
Planned C-sections are those that are scheduled before labor begins. An obstetrician may recommend a planned C-section for the following reasons:

• Breech position
• Pregnancy with multiples
• History of prior C-sections
• Increased risk of uterine rupture

Planned C-sections might also be recommended when the mother has an infection that could be transmitted to the baby if he or she is born vaginally. In other cases, maternal health conditions are at risk of becoming severe during the stress of labor and childbirth. One common example is heart disease.

Unplanned C-Sections
Women who go to the hospital expecting to have a vaginal birth might still need to have a C-section due to unexpected complications. Emergency or unplanned C-sections may be needed for the following reasons:

• The baby is too big
• Labor is prolonged, difficult, or stops
• The baby shows signs of distress, such as heart rate abnormalities
• Complications affect the umbilical cord

Delayed C-Sections
A delayed C-section is when the attending medical staff fails to perform a C-section in a timely manner when it is apparent that the procedure is medically necessary to safeguard the health of mother and baby. This type of medical malpractice can result in birth injuries, such as physical injuries to the baby and an increased risk of developmental delays. For instance, the delay in performing a C-section can cause a disruption in the flow of oxygen to the baby. If the baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen, he or she can quickly begin to sustain brain damage. This can result in disorders like cerebral palsy.

Here at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, we understand the devastating effects of medical malpractice on a family. If your family has been affected by birth injuries at a hospital near Long Island, New York, you can reach out to our malpractice law firm to let us know how we can help you. Call (516) 684-2900 for more information.

Cerebral palsy can be a devastating diagnosis for parents to hear. This disorder, which affects muscle tone, balance, and movement, can occur as the result of a birth injury during delivery or right afterwards. Because the effects of cerebral palsy can lead to a lifetime of complications and medical expenses, you should consider contacting a cerebral palsy lawyer if you suspect your child’s condition was caused by medical negligence.

For parents, there is no single road map to follow for raising a child with cerebral palsy. Some children with cerebral palsy have minor symptoms that may only require minimal support services. In other cases, the symptoms can be so severe that the child cannot walk. Speech difficulties and intellectual disability are also possible. Parents of children with cerebral palsy need to work closely with their children’s’ medical team to determine the best treatment options. They also need to make plans for the future if their children’s symptoms are severe enough that they will not be able to care for themselves or support themselves.

If you believe that medical negligence in New York played a part in your child’s illness, the birth injury attorneys at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC are here to help you seek compensation. Speak to an attorney today by calling (516) 684-2900.

Each June, health advocates across the country celebrate Men’s Health Month. This awareness month is intended to empower men to become effective self-advocates. Men—and women—often trust the opinions and advice of their doctors without question. Trust may be a good quality in certain situations, but when it comes to healthcare, raising questions and seeking second opinions can be essential for preventing the consequences of medical malpractice.

Schedule a wellness exam.
Men tend to not see the doctor when they’re healthy (or even when they’re sick). But preventive wellness is a cornerstone of good health, and wellness exams are an important part of that. If it’s been a while since you saw your doctor, make an appointment right away for an annual exam. Your physician will assess your overall health, look for warning signs of medical problems, and counsel you about your lifestyle.

Know your risk factors.
During your wellness exam, you’ll be asked lots of questions about your personal and family medical history. This information helps your doctor assess your risk factors of problems like heart disease and cancer. Unfortunately, not all doctors will take the time to tell you what your medical history reveals. Take the initiative to ask about the problems you may be at risk of developing. Your risk factors will also be based on your typical diet, level of activity, and occupation.

Get screened. Each wellness exam includes a check of your weight, pulse, and blood pressure, but you may need additional health screenings. Don’t assume that your doctor will let you know when it’s time for a cholesterol test, skin cancer screening, colonoscopy, or diabetes test. Be a proactive self-advocate by asking your doctor if you could benefit from having any health screenings, based on your age and other risk factors.

Pegalis & Erickson, LLC is a medical malpractice law firm on Long Island, New York. Our medical malpractice attorneys have been providing effective legal advocacy services for our clients for more than 40 years. If you have concerns that you may have been affected by medical malpractice, please don’t hesitate to call us at (516) 684-2900.

Stroke can be deadly, and the risk of stroke is particularly high among elderly patients. However, stroke can actually affect patients of any age—including newborns. Because stroke is perceived as being a problem for older patients, younger individuals who suffer stroke may be misdiagnosed. These serious emergency room errors may be a form of medical malpractice if the physician deviated from standard diagnostic procedures.

When stroke occurs, every second counts. The misdiagnosis of stroke may mean that a patient cannot receive clot-busting drugs within a critical time period to improve the chances of survival. When misdiagnosed patients do survive a stroke, they may suffer serious, lifelong consequences as a result of the death of brain cells.

Emergency room errors committed on Long Island, New York can have devastating consequences, which is why the medical negligence lawyers at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC are always here to help. Call us at (516) 684-2900 to request a consultation with our medical malpractice team.

Medical malpractice laws are complex, and they vary from state to state. If you believe you could have a claim, it is important to contact a medical malpractice lawyer with experience practicing in New York. Here is a closer look at some of the specifics of medical malpractice laws in New York.

Statute of Limitations
The time to bring a lawsuit in New York for medical malpractice can be confusing for patients. If you suspect medical negligence occurred, do not delay in consulting an attorney so that your rights can be protected. The attorneys for the patient need to identify the health care providers who made the avoidable medical mistakes, in order to file the lawsuit.

The time limits for filing a lawsuit, called statutes of limitations, are laws which dictate when a lawsuit must be started. Whether the patient is an adult or child, and is alive or has died, all play a key role. In New York the entity involved– such as private facilities, city, state or federal facilities- all have a different time requirement for filing a lawsuit. Once the time limit has expired, a law suit cannot be brought, so if negligence is suspected, action must be taken quickly.

Medical Malpractice attorneys along with medical experts will determine if something serious happened with the medical care you or your loved one received, that should not have occurred. They will gather and review medical records and information, to identify avoidable medical errors.

You can trust the experienced team at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC to help you protect your rights if medical malpractice in New York has happened to you. Talk to an attorney today by calling (516) 684-2900.

Medication errors can have serious consequences for people who receive the wrong drugs or the wrong doses in a medical setting. If you have been affected by this kind of error by a healthcare provider and believe that medical negligence is to blame, consider allowing a medical malpractice lawyer to evaluate your case.

Medication errors occur when a person is given either an incorrect medication or the wrong dosage of the right medication. Automated dispensing cabinets, which are used in many healthcare settings, have been identified as major contributors to medication errors. Mistakes in loading dispensing drawers in these cabinets can easily lead to a provider giving someone the wrong medication.

If a medication error has had disastrous consequences for you, make an appointment with Pegalis & Erickson, LLC to review your case with an experienced medical malpractice attorney in Long Island. We can help you decide how to proceed with your claim and seek damages for your injuries. Set up an appointment with an attorney by calling (516) 684-2900.

Birth injuries can have lifelong consequences for parents and kids alike. Although some birth injuries are not preventable and some are caused by medical malpractice, it is possible to take steps to reduce your child’s risk of experiencing this kind of injury. If your child is injured during birth and you suspect that medical negligence played a role, contact a medical malpractice attorney to discuss your case. During your pregnancy, take these steps to reduce the chance of birth injuries.

Get Regular Prenatal Care
Prenatal care is essential for a healthy pregnancy, labor, and delivery. During your checkups, your doctor can ensure your pregnancy is proceeding as expected and identify any signs of complications that could interfere with a healthy delivery. For instance, if you are diagnosed with preeclampsia, then your doctor will provide treatment to protect you and your baby from the potential complications of that condition. If your doctor fails to identify a potential complication such as gestational diabetes or elevated blood pressure, and provide proper treatment to void a birth injury, contact a medical malpractice attorney to see if the mistake could be classified as medical malpractice.

Have Screening Tests
There is a range of screening tests that can be used during pregnancy to determine if you and your baby are progressing towards a healthy delivery. Attend all of your recommended ultrasound appointments and have any medical tests requested by your doctor. If your doctor diagnoses developmental problems with your baby during an ultrasound, determines that your baby is not in a safe position for birth, or diagnoses a medical problem through another kind of testing, he or she can take precautions during the delivery process. If you doctor doesn’t diagnose a problem that should have been clear from these diagnostic procedures and your child later experiences a birth injury, then medical negligence could be to blame.

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Some lifestyle choices you make during pregnancy, such as smoking or gaining more weight than is recommended, could increase your child’s chance of having a birth injury. Be sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations so you can have the best chance of a healthy delivery.

At Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, we understand how confusing and stressful life can be in the aftermath of a birth injury. Our medical malpractice lawyers are here to help you decide what steps to take to protect your child’s future. To find out more, please call (516) 684-2900.

The underlying cause of cerebral palsy is damage to the brain or the abnormal development of the brain. In some cases, a baby’s brain may sustain damage because of birth injuries, which might be the result of medical malpractice. Birth complications such as uterine rupture, umbilical cord problems, and the detachment of the placenta can increase the risk of cerebral palsy.

It’s also possible that a doctor will fail to diagnose serious conditions, and fail to treat them properly or quickly enough. For example, jaundice of the newborn or infections during pregnancy can result in brain damage if not treated. Less commonly, cerebral palsy may be acquired after 28 days of life. Acquired cerebral palsy may be caused by brain infections like meningitis or by brain injuries.

Was your child diagnosed with cerebral palsy because of medical malpractice? Call Pegalis & Erickson, LLC at (516) 684-2900 to speak with a birth injury lawyer on Long Island, New York.