$1.2 Million Medical Malpractice Claim Successfully Pursued By Parents Of Child With Considerable Impairments
The health of an unborn baby requires that the pregnancy developing normally without complications. In the event certain complications do arise the baby's health and potentially even the baby's life can be endangered. For example, should the baby not receive a proper amount of oxygen the baby might endure brain damage or even die. There are many problems that can come up leading to the situation including a premature separation of the placenta from the uterus. In cases where this happens steps need to be taken right away to either the restore supply of oxygen or deliver the baby. Look at what took place in the following reported case.
The matter was based on allegations that in the thirty ninth week of pregnancy a pregnant woman noticed a stream of clear fluid leave her and went to the hospital. Once at the hospital the staff examined her and placed a fetal heart rate monitor on her. The woman started bleeding bright red blood some seven and a half hours later. This was even noted by the physician. When checking the fetal heart rate monitor the doctorfound that it was not reactive but rather than switch to an internal monitor to more accurately determine the heart rate of the fetus the physicianinstead chose to only keep observing her progress. An ultrasound was done but failed to reveal the an explanation of why the woman was the bleeding. The doctor did not, however, act as if a placental abruption was under consideration. Not finding anything from the ultrasound is not the same as knowing why the woman was bleeding.
Within 45 minutes the staff observed decelerations in the heart rate of the fetus. After another 10 minutes the monitor strips were suspicious for worsening fetal distress. Rather then checking the pH of the fetus