Denver Mismanaged Fetal Malposition Medical Malpractice Attorneys
Denver Medical Malpractice Lawyers Help Victims of Fetal Malposition
Newborn babies may suffer serious birth injuries when healthcare providers fail to provide standard treatment for fetal malposition. If your newborn is a victim of fetal malposition due to medical malpractice, Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. can help.
Our firm has been helping people in Denver for over 40 years. We've won millions of dollars in settlements for our clients, and partner Jim Puga won a record-breaking $17.9 million medical malpractice verdict in Colorado. Our experienced litigators have also been recognized for providing our clients with outstanding service by Super Lawyers, a rating agency that evaluates attorneys based on peer recognition and professional achievement.
Call (303) 759-9945 or toll-free at (877) 433-3906 to schedule a no-cost consultation with our Colorado birth injury lawyers today.
What Is Fetal Malposition?
Fetal malposition refers to any position of the baby in the womb that is not the ideal cephalic presentation. Fetal malposition may complicate the labor and delivery process and contribute to birth injuries suffered by the infant.
Fetal malposition may include various abnormal orientations such as occiput posterior, where the baby's head is down but facing the mother's abdomen, or transverse lie, where the baby is positioned horizontally. This orientation typically necessitates a cesarean section, as vaginal delivery would be unsafe. Breech presentation, where the baby's buttocks or feet are positioned to come out first, is another significant malposition that often requires surgical intervention.
Cephalic presentation refers to the position of the baby in the womb, where the head is oriented downward and toward the birth canal. This is the most common and ideal position for vaginal delivery, as it allows the baby's head, the largest part of the body, to navigate through the birth canal first.
Confirming cephalic presentation is a crucial step in prenatal care to ensure the baby is in the optimal position for delivery. Several methods are employed by healthcare providers to ascertain the baby's position. Ultrasound is the most common and accurate method, providing a visual confirmation of the baby's orientation in the womb.
During a pelvic exam, a skilled practitioner can manually feel the baby's head through the cervix, indicating a cephalic presentation. Monitoring the fetal heart rate through specific points on the mother's abdomen can also give clues about the baby's position.
What Medical Interventions are Available in Denver for Fetal Malpresentation?
Fetal malposition can lead to various complications during labor, impacting both the mother and the baby. One common issue is prolonged labor, which can occur when the baby's head is not optimally aligned with the birth canal, making it difficult for the baby to descend. This can lead to increased maternal fatigue and stress. Malposition also increases the use of assistive devices like forceps or vacuum extractors, which carry their own risks, such as injury to the baby or mother.
External Cephalic Version (ECV) is a procedure used to turn a baby from a breech or transverse position into the cephalic (head-down) position before delivery. This manual technique is usually performed around the 37th week of pregnancy. During the procedure, a healthcare provider applies gentle but firm pressure on the mother's abdomen to encourage the baby to rotate.
ECV is typically done in a hospital setting where the baby's heart rate can be continuously monitored, and immediate medical care is available if needed. The success rate of ECV varies, but it can significantly reduce the need for a cesarean section if successful. In some cases, an emergency cesarean section may become necessary to prevent birth injuries.
Link Between Medical Malpractice and Fetal Malpresentation
In the context of fetal malposition, medical malpractice involves a healthcare provider's failure to meet the standard of care expected in managing the condition. For someone to establish a malpractice claim, several criteria must be met:
- There must be a doctor-patient relationship, establishing the duty of care.
- A breach of the duty of care must be demonstrated, such as failing to diagnose the malposition or not taking appropriate actions to manage it.
- Causation must be shown – this means that the breach was a cause of the injury or harm to the mother or baby.
Finally, there must be demonstrable damages resulting from the injury, such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, or long-term health issues.
One common breach is the failure to diagnose fetal malposition during routine prenatal visits. This oversight can lead to insufficient interventions to correct the baby's position or prepare for a safer delivery method. Another example is the failure to manage a diagnosed malposition appropriately, such as not attempting an (ECV). Delaying or failing to perform a timely cesarean section in cases where vaginal delivery is unsafe due to malposition can also constitute a breach.
Call Our Denver Medical Malpractice Attorneys for Your Fetal Malpresentation Case
An OB-GYN and everyone on the delivery team is a highly trained professional. This means that there is no excuse for medical errors that can tragically impact the life of your child. If you've experienced fetal malpresentation medical malpractice, contact Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. Our firm is dedicated to helping victims of medical malpractice put their lives back together.
Don't hesitate to contact one of our Denver fetal malpresentation lawyers. Call us today at (303) 759-9945 or toll-free at (877) 433-3906 to learn more.
