Illinois parents understand the excitement (and anxiety) of an expectant mother. Entrusting the health and safety of mother and baby to a medical team is a common, everyday occurrence in hospitals throughout the state and country. Unfortunately, medical negligence can and result in birth injuries more often than many people believe.
The term “never event” refers to medical incidents that are easily preventable and, therefore, should never happen but do, because of negligence. Such incidents might include medication errors, surgical mistakes and birth injuries. There are several issues that are often key factors when women or infants suffer injuries during labor, delivery or postpartum care.
Obstetricians and midwives can avoid birth injuries
The issues included in the following list would raise concerns for the average obstetrician or midwife because they know that such issues make moms and babies vulnerable to birth injuries:
- Misshapen pelvis or pelvis too small for baby to be born vaginally
- Labor not progressing
- Baby is breech or posterior
- Obesity in mother
- Birthweight over 8 pounds
These and other issues would normally alert an OB-GYN or midwife to potential problems that could result in birth injuries.
What can parents do if birth injuries occur?
When labor and delivery do not go as planned, parents may experience great sorrow if their infant dies at birth or suffers severe birth injuries. When medical negligence is the cause, parents may act on their child’s behalf to seek restitution for damages in a civil court. It is best to act alongside legal representation because such cases are complex and stressful.