Obstetrical Malpractice Attorneys in Denver
When a Mother Receives Inadequate Care
Obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs) play a key role in a future mother’s life. They are the most important medical advisor a woman has during her nine months of pregnancy. Obstetrics focuses on the mother’s health during pregnancy, and OB/GYNs are supposed to ensure that there are no complications when the baby is delivered.
But that’s not what always happens.
Birth trauma can occur anywhere, from a doctor’s office to the delivery ward to the operating room. And if that harm was due to an obstetrician’s negligence, it is grounds for an obstetrical malpractice claim.
If you believe that you or your child was injured because of your doctor, contact the birth injury attorneys at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. Medical malpractice cases require expertise, and it’s crucial that you get the right counsel. We have fought on behalf of mothers and babies countless times. Call us at (303) 759-9945 to discuss your case today.
What Is an OB/GYN?
Obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs) are doctors who specialize in women’s reproductive healthcare. They are trained in both obstetrics, which means working with pregnant women and delivering babies, and gynecology, which involves the health of the female reproductive system.
Obstetricians care for a woman during pregnancy and right after a baby is born. Gynecologists specialize in women’s reproductive health, so they administer pelvic exams, Pap tests, cancer screening, and vaginal infections. Gynecologists also treat a range of reproductive system disorders such as infertility, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and pelvic pain.
An OB/GYN’s Duties During Pregnancy
An OB/GYN is required to oversee the health of the mother and baby throughout pregnancy and childbirth. During appointments, the OB/GYN will monitor the mother’s general health, review the baby’s development using ultrasounds, and check its fetal heart rate.
As the mother enters the third trimester of pregnancy, appointments with her OB/GYN will become more frequent. In cases of high-risk pregnancy, the OB/GYN must visit the patient as often as necessary to keep a close eye on the mother and baby’s health. Examples of high-risk pregnancy include cases where the mother is facing the following issues:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- HIV-Positive
- Overweight
- Multiple births
- Mother is under 17 years old
- Thyroid disease
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Mother is over 35 years old
A major risk to the health of both mother and child that an OB/GYN must watch out for is preeclampsia, persistent high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy. Preeclampsia affects blood flow to the placenta, often leading to forced C-sections, smaller or premature babies, and infant death. Health risks for the mother from preeclampsia include kidney and liver damage, blood clotting, fluid in the lungs, seizures, strokes, and heart attacks.
What Is Obstetrical Malpractice?
Complications during a pregnancy must be anticipated and treated in a timely manner. With the modern technology now available, doctors should be able to avoid most childbirth issues. But preventable injuries still take place every day.
To win a malpractice lawsuit, the patient’s attorneys must prove that her doctor breached the standard of care. This means that a reasonable doctor would not have made those same decisions that led to the injury of the patient or her baby.
No family should have to experience the pain of a seriously injured child or mother because a doctor made a mistake. Unfortunately, some common obstetrical mistakes that lead to obstetrical malpractice lawsuits include the following:
- Delay in identifying and treating symptoms of fetal distress
- Inaccurate reading of test results or ultrasound screenings
- Failure to read the fetal monitoring systems correctly.
- Failure to attempt to resuscitate the fetus
- Failure to call for a C-section delivery in a timely manner
- Negligent administration of anesthesia
- Administering the wrong medication
- Improper use of birth-assisting devices, like forceps or vacuum extractors
- Failure to notice complications
The Consequences of Obstetrical Malpractice
When an obstetrician fails to diagnose pregnancy complications, it can be deadly to the mother and the baby. Routine tests can determine if a fetus has abnormalities, is developing properly, and if the pregnancy will be safe for natural delivery. An obstetrician who does not order these tests or misreads the results should be held responsible for their negligence.
Obstetrical malpractice may result in harm to the baby, such as:
- Cerebral palsy
- Brachial plexus injuries, such as Erb’s palsy or Klumpke’s palsy
- Brain damage, such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
- Fractures
- Spinal cord damage
- Cephalohematoma
- Death
Obstetrical malpractice may also result in harmful consequences for the mother, such as:
- Shoulder dystocia
- Excessive hemorrhaging
- Heart failure
- Preeclampsia
- Blood clots
- Death
Choose Our Top Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyers
Proving that a medical professional acted negligently and injured a patient is not an easy task. At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we fully understand the complex work involved in a medical malpractice claim, and what it takes to get our clients the maximum compensation possible. That’s why we have medical experts in obstetrics and childbirth who can figure out exactly what went wrong during your pregnancy or birth.
While we understand that a legal claim cannot undo the damage and physical and mental suffering you sustained due to a birth injury, it can at least help you cover the medical bills, loss of wages, and other expenses. Serious birth injuries often lead to a lifetime of medical care for the injured child. Our trial attorneys will fight hard to ensure you receive enough compensation to cover these long-term needs.
We take obstetrical malpractice very seriously because we believe that healthcare professionals who cause birth injuries need to be held responsible for their actions. Contact our Denver office at (303) 759-9945. There is no charge for the initial consultation, and we have successfully handled birth injury claims all across the country.
Additional Information
- The Unacceptable Cost Of Poor Maternal Care In The U.S.
- Trends in Malpractice Claims for Obstetric and Gynecologic Procedures, 2005 Through 2014.
Great Trial Lawyers Obtaining Unparalleled Results
303-759-9945 
877-433-3906