There is a range of common mistakes nurses make that result in maternal or infant injury. Healthcare facilities make use of detailed monitoring systems to keep track of a baby’s health and wellness during the birth process. When nurses or other medical staff fail to properly monitor these vital signs during birth, they may miss critical information that can cause injuries both to the mother and her baby.
Errors in administering the proper medication are also responsible for injuries in the birthing process. If a nurse fails to properly communicate with other doctors about the proper medications, then severe complications are often present in the birth process. Nurses may either fail to give a mother the correct drug or they may administer the correct drug in an incorrect dose amount. Both scenarios often create troubling results in the birth process.
Simple neglect and a lack of proper care are also common during birth. When a nurse is not mindful of their actions, they may slip and cause damage to an infant or a mother. Similarly, if a nurse fails to abide by proper sanitary procedures, their negligence can cause illness and infections for patients. The mishandling of an infant can lead to a lack of oxygen, which often creates brain damage and produces a greater likelihood of developmental disabilities.
Common Causes of Nursing Mistakes
In some cases, nurses’ mistakes can be chalked up to a common human error. However, other situations may be born of miscommunications between medical staff members. When the improper use of medical tools and equipment is present, then the healthcare facility or manufacturer may be called into question.
In any case, a lawyer who focuses on birth injury law can stand up to defend your position. Legal teams will typically begin by investigating the circumstances that led up to the incident. A lawyer will compile many forms of evidence and seek to negotiate a settlement that collects any forms of monetary compensation that you may be owed to cover the costs that follow a maternal or infant injury.
It is a sad fact, but the fear of punishment is also present in many cases of medical malpractice. If a nurse or other medical professional fails to report an error that a patient did not notice, then problems can become even more pronounced. Without the proper identification of a mistake causing maternal or infant injury, proper treatment approaches may remain elusive. However, there are several reasons for a medical professional to attempt to ignore or downplay their mistake. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), it is the fear of punishment that makes healthcare professionals reluctant to report errors. At the same time they fear for a patients’ safety, they also are in fear of disciplinary action to include the fear of losing their jobs if they report an incident. Unfortunately, failing to report an error contributes to the likelihood of serious patient harm.
Injuries during pregnancy are often caused by negligence, lack of proper procedures, or miscommunications. Most injuries caused by a human error can be avoided. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most pregnancy-related deaths are preventable which demonstrates the need to identify and implement specific strategies to address the multiple contributing factors. If you or your child were injured due to the negligence or misconduct of a medical professional, then you may be entitled to compensation for your past and future medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other forms of recoverable damages.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
Learn About Your Right to Compensation if a Nursing Mistake Resulted in Maternal or Infant Injuries for You or Your Baby
When a nurse makes a common mistake that results in maternal or infant injury, you and your baby can experience devastating outcomes. Dealing with your injuries is often difficult. The emotional trauma of such an experience is also likely to produce enormous hardships for both you and your family. The good news is that you do not have to take on the legal system alone. When you have a birth injury attorney by your side, they will fight for justice on your behalf. In addition to communicating with all involved parties, a lawyer can also assist in establishing liable parties and going after any forms of monetary compensation that you may be owed. For a free consultation, do not hesitate to call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529.
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