Although pregnancy is a time of happiness and anticipation, it also comes with stress. Expecting mothers in New York often worry about the symptoms they experience while pregnant. While many physicians can help put their patient’s mind at ease, a recently filed lawsuit claims that doctor errors resulted in a child injury after doctors failed to initiate a C-section despite signs that an unborn infant was in distress. The parents of the child have recently filed a lawsuit as a result.
The lawsuit claims that the child’s mother began experiencing worrisome symptoms, such as decreased fetal movement, back pain, nausea and dizziness, when she was 37 weeks pregnant. She sought medical treatment. Although a physician consulted with office staff over the phone, she did not examine the woman.
She was sent home but returned the next morning; at that time, a different physician conducted an ultrasound which was abnormal. Additional tests indicated that the child had an irregular heart rate; both are reportedly signs that the baby was in distress. Despite these signs, the lawsuit alleges that a C-section was not performed for several hours resulting in a catastrophic brain injury to the child due to oxygen deprivation. The lawsuit additionally claims that hospital staff caused other injuries to the infant when they incorrectly adjusted his ventilator.
Regardless of the circumstances, injuries such as this are difficult for parents. However, knowing that harm to their child was caused by doctor errors and could have potentially been prevented makes such injuries even more devastating. Unfortunately, a brain injury often requires extensive, long-term medical care. In some situations, a parent may need to quit his or her job in order to ensure a child receives proper care. Fortunately, there are personal injury attorneys in New York who can help those who have suffered a brain injury — or are caring for a loved one with such an injury — due to negligence seek recompense in a civil court.
Source: citizensvoice.com, “Lawsuit contends physicians caused child to suffer brain injury“, Terrie Morgan-Besecker, Nov. 23, 2016