Baltimore Fetal Monitoring Errors Lawyer
Ideally, every pregnancy would proceed normally and the fetus would remain healthy before, during, and after birth. Unfortunately, sometimes fetuses experience distress, which most often means their oxygen supply has been compromised. In medical terms, this is known as hypoxia and it can occur when the fetus is in utero, or when they are being born.
To avoid fetal distress, and to respond to it as quickly as possible, doctors and other healthcare professionals use a fetal monitor to identify when a child is in fetal distress. When doctors fail to identify fetal distress, the consequences can result in the wrongful death of the unborn child. A Baltimore fetal monitoring lawyer can review the facts of your case to determine if you can file a claim for damages.
Common Types of Fetal Monitoring Errors
Fetal monitoring errors are usually made by negligent doctors and other healthcare professionals. Some of the most common fetal monitoring errors that result in birth injuries are as follows:
- Failing to determine whether a woman requires additional fetal monitoring
- Failing to properly identify abnormal rhythms with the fetus’ heartbeat
- Fetal monitoring devices that do not work properly
- Healthcare professionals who fail to take necessary medical action immediately after seeing signs of fetal distress
- Failing to read a fetal monitor properly to distinguish between fetal and maternal heart rates
- Incorrectly using a fetal monitor
- Inexperience or a lack of clinical training in using a fetal monitor and/or reading fetal heart patterns
Sadly, the above are just a few of the most common types of fetal monitoring errors. A Baltimore birth injury lawyer can determine when negligent fetal monitoring resulted in the injury or death of an unborn child.
Risks Associated with Fetal Monitoring Errors
Fetal monitoring is an extremely important part of the pregnancy process to ensure the fetus does not suffer unnecessary harm. When a fetus is not properly monitored before or during the birthing process, they can suffer from brain damage, paralysis, developmental delays, and cerebral palsy. These conditions are the result of hypoxia, or the brain not receiving the sufficient oxygen it needs. In some cases, fetal monitoring errors are fatal for the child, resulting in a stillbirth.
Fetal monitoring errors are not only harmful to the child, though. Expectant mothers can also suffer injury when their unborn child is not monitored properly. A pregnant woman may suffer from placental abruption, which is when the placenta partially separates from the uterus. This places the child at risk and can also require the woman to spend months on bed rest, which could cause her to lose income, incur more medical bills, and suffer other losses.
Call Our Birth Injury Lawyers in Baltimore Today
If you or your child has suffered harm as a result of fetal monitoring errors, our Baltimore birth injury lawyers can help you claim the financial compensation you are entitled to. At Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC, our skilled attorneys are dedicated to helping families and we want to help yours, too. Call us today at 410.567.0800 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about your legal options.
