The most common mistakes doctors make during a pregnancy are prescribing dangerous medications, ignoring the warning signs of potentially dangerous births, failing to diagnose conditions, and physically harming the mother or child during the birthing process. The most common birth-related injuries include:
- Facial injuries.
- Soft tissue damage.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Nerve injuries, including brachial plexus injuries, which can cause Erb’s palsy.
- Traumatic brain injuries, including skull fractures, intracranial hemorrhages, and subgaleal hemorrhage, which can cause cerebral palsy.
- Cephalohematoma and caput succedaneum.
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Prescribing Dangerous Medications During Pregnancy
Doctors often prescribe dangerous medications during pregnancy because of medical inexperience, forgetting the risk of potential side effects of the drug, acting on impulse, prescribing medications without performing proper testing procedures, or other forms of negligence. Other reasons doctors may make medication errors include the following:
- A lack of communication between your doctors
- Improper communication between you and your doctors
- Misunderstanding between drug names that sound alike and medications that look alike
- Misinterpreting medical abbreviations
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Birth Injuries from Doctor Negligence
Studies from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) suggests that the rate of injury for every thousand births was 1.93 in 2013. When a birth injury occurs during labor, it is possible for the doctor or other medical professionals overseeing the pregnancy to be at fault.
Doctors can be responsible for birth injuries through either action or inaction. Even if the doctor does not physically harm you or your child, they may still be responsible for the injuries if they failed to prevent them from occurring. Common negligent actions that can lead to birth injuries include, but may not be limited to:
- Failing to diagnose a condition, making an inaccurate diagnosis, or failing to administer tests to patients.
- Failing to perform a C-section when the situation calls for it.
- Allowing the child to be born in an awkward position—such as breech birth, where the baby is born feet-first.
- Allowing labor to continue for a prolonged period of time without taking action.
- Using forceps during the birthing process with too much force or without properly moving the umbilical cord.
- Improperly using vacuum-extraction tools during the birthing process.
Improper Use of Birthing Tools Can Cause Birth Injuries
When used improperly during labor, forceps and vacuum extractors can cause injuries to both the mother and the child. For the mother, forceps injuries can cause them to have trouble urinating or making bowel movements, in addition to causing wounds to the perineum or uterine wall. When doctors use forceps improperly on newborns, the effects can be severe, including:
- Nerve damage, which can lead to paralysis.
- Damage to the eyes and face.
- Skull fractures, which can cause internal bleeding or swelling of the brain.
- Brain injuries, possibly resulting in cognitive disabilities, seizure conditions, and impaired motor functions.
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Determining Who Is Responsible in Your Medical Malpractice Claim
In most cases, victims bring medical malpractice claims against the negligent doctor, nurse, or other medical professionals involved in the birth. However, it is possible for other entities to be responsible for the negligence. Examples of potentially liable parties can include, but may not be limited to, the following:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Surgeons
- Hospitals
- Laboratories
- Medical practices
- Urgent care centers
- Residential care facilities
The specifications of these medical malpractice claims are known to vary between states. As such, the amount of compensation you can receive, as well as the types of entities you can file cases against, may vary depending on your location.
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Birth Injury Lawyers Fighting for You and Your Loved Ones
Here at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, we believe victims should be able to seek justice when their injuries result from medical staff’s negligence. If you believe a medical professional was responsible for your case, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for your family’s pain. If found liable, the offenders may be responsible for covering the damages for your various hardships, including your:
- Treatment expenses.
- Financial losses and lost wages.
- Mental suffering.
- Physical pain associated with the injuries.
- Accommodations for long-term disabilities.
Asking, “What are the most common mistakes doctors make during a pregnancy?” can help you to recognize when a doctor commits medical malpractice against you or your family. If so, our team may be able to help you better understand your legal options.
To get started with your free consultation today, contact a representative from the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529.
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