Failure to Perform C-section
Medical malpractice occurs when medical professionals fail to provide patients with a certain standard of care. One type of malpractice that can occur is failure to perform a C-section or a delayed C-section. If a C-section is not performed in a timely manner, or at all, it can result in significant injury to the child and mother.
At Foley Law Firm in Scranton, PA, we can determine if medical malpractice played a role in your delayed C-section. Contact our practice to schedule a time for our team to review your case.
Reasons for a C-section
An obstetrician-gynecologist, or OB-GYN, is trained to recognize certain signs or conditions that indicate the need for a C-section instead of a vaginal birth.
Fetal Distress
During the birthing process, doctors and other medical professionals should monitor the health of the baby. Signs of fetal distress include:
- An irregular heartbeat
- Fluctuating blood pressure
- Umbilical cord problems
Pre-natal Conditions
There are certain medical conditions that may indicate a patient should undergo a C-section. These include:
- Placenta previa
- Placenta abruption
- Pre-eclampsia
- Uterine fibroid removal
- Previous birth to twins
- Prior C-section
- Breech or transverse position
- Active herpes or other sexually-transmitted diseases
Prolonged Labor
If the patient has been in labor for an extended amount of time or the labor stops progressing, an emergency C-section may need to be performed.
What Types of Injuries Can Occur Due to the Failure to Perform a C-section?
If an emergency C-section is not performed quickly or doctors do not recognize the need for a C-section, serious birth injury can occur.
A deprivation of oxygen to the brain can result in brain damage, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, and developmental disabilities.
Failure to perform a C-section can also result in a transfer of diseases such as herpes and HIV.
In the most traumatic of cases, wrongful death can occur as a result of a delayed C-section.
Damages in Delayed C-section Cases
If the mother or child are injured due to the failure to perform a C-section or a delayed C-section, it may be possible to recover compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit.
At Foley Law Firm in Scranton, we have a history of handling medical malpractice cases involving failure to perform a C-section. We obtained a $7.4 million award for a cerebral palsy victim, in the case of Mary Doe v. Doctor and Hospital. The settlement was the result of a physician’s failure to perform a C-section while the mother was in labor for 42 hours.
The types of damages that can be obtained in a medical malpractice cases include:
- Medical expenses, including the initial hospital fees and all future projected medical care
- The cost of lifelong care and assistance in the case of permanent injury
- Loss of future wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
Contact Our Practice
To find out if you should file a medical malpractice lawsuit for the failure to perform a C-section or delayed C-section, contact Foley Law Firm in Scranton today. We will set up a time for you to review your case with an attorney. You can contact us online or call us at (570) 342-8194.