Oregon Medical Malpractice Causing High Risk Pregnancy Birth Injuries
Welcoming a child into this world is a joyful but stressful time. It is also a chaotic time. This is especially true during labor and delivery. In fact, the labor and delivery process could be an absolutely crazy time. Proper monitoring and preparation make this time much easier, especially identifying potential risks of the delivery. But when healthcare providers fail to identify issues with high risk pregnancies before labor starts, it could result in serious personal injuries or even the wrongful death of an innocent newborn or personal injuries to the mother. Learn what happens when Oregon medical malpractice causes high risk pregnancy birth injuries from our Oregon birth injury lawyers.
What Are High Risk Pregnancies?
High risk pregnancies are pregnancies were the natural complications are increased, or where there are certain factors or conditions which create a greater chance for personal injury. Sometimes a high risk pregnancy can be identified months before the labor and delivery process starts, such as a breech position of the baby (feet first) or mother’s small birth canal. Other complications that could be determined months before also include multiple births at once, including twins or triplets. Whereas other times a high risk pregnancy could be identified when the labor and delivery process begins. This means that a healthcare provider or team should start to plan for a c-section instead of trying to do the delivery.
There are many different types of high risk pregnancies which include some of the following:
- Preeclampsia;
- Large baby, small pelvis for mother;
- Gestational diabetes, which usually means increased baby size;
- Multiple births like twins, triplets, or other numbers;
- Older than 40 years old for the mother;
- High blood pressure, or low blood pressure (anything that is not normally regulated);
- Obesity;
- Post-term pregnancy;
- Premature pregnancy;
- Oligohydramnios or low amniotic fluid;
- Premature rupture of membrane;
- Kidney disease or liver disease;
- STDs/STIs;
- Autoimmune disorders;
- Thyroid issues;
- Any type of cancer or relate health condition; and
- Other abnormal or risky conditions.
Liability for High Risk Pregnancy Birth Injuries
A healthcare provider must provide a patient the level of care that an ordinary, prudent, healthcare provider in the same speciality with the same training and experience could have in similar circumstances. This means an OB-GYN must provide the same reasonable care and treatment that another OB-GYN would have rendered. This also means that a labor and delivery nurse must provide the same reasonable care that another labor and delivery nurse would have rendered.
This is known as the standard of care. When a healthcare provider or a healthcare entity (like a hospital or doctor’s office) fail to meet the standard of care, it could be said to have resulted in a breach of the healthcare provider’s duty. A defendant doctor, nurse, or hospital could be liable for all damages caused to a patient (mother and/or baby) due to the breach of the healthcare provider’s duty. This means that victims of Oregon medical malpractice may be entitled to recover damages caused by the defendant’s breach.
When it comes to high risk pregnancies, almost all types of high risk pregnancies could be avoided with proper medical care and treatment. All it takes is simple monitoring, imaging, and other testing to ensure that the baby and mother are safe. If there is a high risk pregnancy which cannot be mitigated, it is wise and prudent for healthcare providers to perform a c-section or take other preventative measures to ensure the baby is not harmed.
Some common damages that may be caused from high risk pregnancy birth injuries include the following:
- Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE);
- Cerebral palsy;
- Brain injuries;
- Broken bones;
- Nerve injuries, including brachial plexus injuries;
- Significant scarring;
- Bacteria meningitis;
- Head injuries;
- Injuries to the mother;
- Wrongful death to the baby; and
- Many other injuries.
Did a High Risk Pregnancy Cause Injuries to a Baby or Mother? Ask our Oregon Birth Injury Lawyers for Help
Anytime a high risk pregnancy results in serious birth injuries to a baby, ask for a lawyer to take a free look to see what happened. High risk pregnancies can be completely avoided and mitigated with the proper care and treatment by healthcare providers. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
