Cleveland Attorney for High-Risk Pregnancies
Improper Management Of High-Risk Pregnancy & Birth
Some women are at greater risk for medical conditions and events that can harm their developing fetuses or endanger their own lives. Improved technology and extensive medical research have provided doctors with the tools they need to identify situations that carry a higher rate of risk for babies. We know which situations are potentially dangerous, and when extra care should be taken.
In most cases, doctors who do not have experience managing these high-risk situations should inform their patients and refer them to obstetricians who are familiar with the duties and treatments involved. If a doctor accepts a patient in these circumstances, he or she is expected to know and understand how to properly manage the pregnancy.
The following are some ways that proper medical care and treatment could help expectant mothers avoid problems during pregnancy:
- Extra prenatal visits;
- Amniocentesis;
- Additional ultrasounds;
- Further testing (urine, blood, genetic);
- Blood pressure checkups;
- Being seen by regular doctor and a maternal-fetal specialist or perinatologist;
- Closer monitoring of fetus;
- Treatment options (hospitalization, medication, bed rest, etc.); and
- Delivery in a specialized hospital.
If doctors and staff are not proactive in screening and diligent in managing a high-risk pregnancy, they should be held accountable when the mother or baby is injured or dies. The birth injury attorneys at The Becker Law Firm help families who have suffered significant harm because of negligent management of a high-risk pregnancy, labor, or delivery.
Contact us online or by phone at (440) 252-4399 to request your free, no-risk consultation.
Examples of High-Risk Pregnancies
At The Becker Law Firm, we have a long record of success in cases involving mismanagement of high-risk pregnancies, including those involving:
- Advanced maternal age: Women who are 35 or older are considered to be of advanced maternal age, which carries a series of heightened risks over what younger mothers experience. Managing obstetricians should take care to diagnose genetic problems, to watch for problems in blood pressure, and to take care of the baby and the mother.
- Premature birth: Premature babies are far more susceptible to developmental problems, delivery trauma, and neonatal death. 12.5% of the babies born in the United States are premature. Prematurity can lead to extensive physical and mental problems, including cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and death. Obstetricians have an opportunity to prevent prematurity in some cases, giving the baby adequate time to grow.
- Twins, triplets, or other multiples: The rate of multiple births has increased in recent decades and, with it, the risk of complications from a mismanaged pregnancy or delivery. Whether naturally occurring or because of fertility treatments, there are unique risks involved when having multiple children at the same time. Careful doctors must take care to manage the pregnancy and to monitor for complications like placental abruption, fetal distress, gestational diabetes, and a prolapsed umbilical cord, to name a few.
- Suspected large fetus: Babies who weigh over 8 lbs., 13 oz. may be at risk for injuries, including particularly brachial plexus injuries caused by the baby becoming stuck in the birth canal. Doctors must be able to identify possible macrosomia and handle the complicated delivery. Mistakes can include the failure to accurately gauge the size of the fetus and the failure to manage the delivery.
- Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC): Women who have had a previous C-section are at an increased risk of uterine rupture if they attempt a vaginal delivery. Women may choose to have a vaginal birth after cesarean, but there are specific criteria that they must fulfill before a doctor allows them to undergo a course of labor. The risks to the baby include uterine rupture, cerebral palsy, and stillbirth.
- PROM and P-PROM: The rupture of membranes (water breaking) is a key event that defines the duty of doctors and nurses up through labor. Particularly if the water breaks while the baby is premature, there are a series of actions the doctor must take to ensure the health and safety of the baby. Care must be taken in cases involving premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (P-PROM). This includes a timely and proper course of antibiotics.
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$15.9 Million Birth Injury
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$13.5 Million Birth Injury
Becker Law Firm attorneys Michael Becker and David Skall obtained a jury verdict for $13.5 million in Akron, Ohio. The case involved a now 16- year-old boy who suffered a brain injury at the time of birth (specifically a watershed injury). The doctor held liable for causing the boy’s injury is Laura Fortner, M.D., previously of Atrium OB/GYN, Inc.
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$8.7 Million Birth Trauma
Failure to Appropriately Manage Preeclampsia Resulting in Brain Damage
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$4.5 Million Birth Injury
Failure to Carefully Ligate Umbilical Cord, Resulting In Severing Child’s Great Toe, Major Fluctuation In Child’s Blood Pressure And Subsequent Brain Damage (Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Delays)
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$4.25 Million Birth Injury
Failure of Obsterical Caregivers to Recognize Maternal Hemorrhage Resulting in Brain Damage
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