Maryland Maternal Death Lawyer
Having a baby typically brings about happiness and joy, but there are situations in which it can bring about death, particularly for the mother. Maternal death occurs when a woman dies within one year of having her baby, due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth. This death is often the result of substandard care by a negligent doctor. Negligence occurs when a medical professional fails to provide appropriate care to the mother. This may include failing to provide appropriate testing or not recognizing certain warning signs.
Too many doctors and nurses focus on just the wellbeing of the infant during pregnancy and after birth. However, the mother’s health is just as important. When doctors are negligent toward the mother, this can lead to a misdiagnosis of certain pregnancy-related conditions as well as mistakes during labor or delivery that cause the mother to die.
Unfortunately, the maternal mortality rate in the United States is one of the worst among all developed countries. African-American mothers are especially at risk. These mothers die preventable deaths that are caused by inadequate care and medical errors by negligent doctors.
It’s critical that the families of victims of maternal death hold medical providers accountable for their negligence. A Maryland maternal death lawyer at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman can help you understand your legal rights and see if you are eligible to file a lawsuit so you can obtain compensation for your damages.
Causes of Maternal Death
The leading cause of maternal death is hypertension, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. These conditions are often caused by a condition called preeclampsia, which is characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Blood vessels also become narrow, resulting in insufficient blood flow to the uterus and immune system issues. As the preeclampsia progresses, it could cause symptoms such as seizures, vision issues, severe headaches, shortness of breath, and rapid weight gain. If not treated, preeclampsia can lead to death. Fortunately, there are drugs available to reduce blood pressure and prevent seizures.
There are many other types of complications that can occur during pregnancy, labor, and delivery and cause maternal death, such as:
- Blood clots
- Placenta previa
- Uterine rupture
- Placental abruption
- Amniotic fluid embolism
- C-section errors
- Postpartum hemorrhage
- Postpartum infection
Contact Us Today
Childbirth happens on a daily basis, but even in a developed country such as the United States, the mother can develop fatal complications. The maternal death rate is still quite high.
If your loved one died from medical negligence during labor or delivery, you need legal help on your side. A maternal death lawyer at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman can help you file a maternal death claim. We can help you obtain compensation for medical bills, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of companionship, and other damages. To schedule a free consultation today, call our office at (410) 567-0800.
