Nassau County Failure to Respond to Medical Problems in the Mother

Pregnancy and childbirth are complicated. There are a variety of complications that could develop that would put both the mother and baby at risk. It is imperative that the mother receive proper healthcare during pregnancy. However, if the doctor fails to diagnose and properly treat medical problems in the mother, the mother could suffer from a serious injury. Furthermore, an untreated or improperly treated ailment in the mother could result in a catastrophic birth injury for the baby. Many such problems develop because the mother had pre-existing risk factors such as high blood pressure. However, even when the mother has preexisting problems monitoring and an appropriate treatment plan can minimize additional problems and harm to the baby. Unfortunately, each year in New York serious and often permanent medical problems occur that could have been avoided with careful monitoring. For example, a baby may suffer a brain injury, neck injury, shoulder dystocia, birth hypoxia, a spinal cord injury, seizures, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, or some other type of personal injury if the mother suffers from an unchecked medical problem. In the same way that a victim of a car accident or some other type of serious accident can seek damages from the person who caused the accident, New York law allows victims of negligent medical professionals to seek damages as well. If you or your baby suffered a serious injury as a result of a failure of health care professionals to monitor your medical problems, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced Nassau County Failure to Respond to Medical Problems in the Mother Injury Lawyer who will help you pursue compensation for your injuries and your child’s injuries through a medical malpractice lawsuit.

If a pregnant woman has medical problems before her pregnancy or developed medical problems during her pregnancy, it is incumbent upon the health care workers caring for her to monitor those problems and treat them appropriately. Common medical problems that should be closely monitored include:

• High blood pressure. High blood pressure is associated with preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is quite serious and can be fatal.
• Anemia. Low iron is associated with low birth weight and preterm birth.
• Diabetes. Gestational diabetes is associated with a high birth weight and other complications.
• Cardiac problems. Pregnancy puts additional pressure on the circulatory system. If you have a pre-existing heart condition your pregnancy is high risk and your doctors must monitor you carefully.

Other conditions in the mother than need to be closely monitored include blood-clotting disorders, substance abuse, abdominal trauma, kidney disease, obesity, and infections.

Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional such as an obstetrician, nurse, or other health care professional fails to take reasonable care and as a result the patient suffers an injury. Thus, if a doctor fails to properly respond to your medical problems and as a result you or your baby is injured, New York law allows you to hold that doctor and other medical professionals legally and financially liable.

• Medical expenses. The negligent party may be required to compensate you for your medical bills. The medical expenses portion of damages should include every medical expense that you incurred over the course of receiving treatment as well as future medical expenses.
• Lost income. If as a result of the medical mistake you end up missing a work, your damages could include compensation for the income you lost. Similarly, if a medical mistake resulted in you being disabled in some way that will reduce your future ability to earn a living, you may be entitled to compensation for the reduction in earning potential.
• Pain and suffering. The court may also award damages based on the physical and mental anguish you experienced from your injuries and recovery.
• Wrongful death. If a medical professional fails to respond to a medical problem in a pregnant woman, and as a result the mother passes away, then the medical staff may be required to pay damages to the family of the decedent.

If you suspect that you or your baby was injured because your doctor, nurse, or other health care professional failed to respond to your medical problems , do not hesitate to immediately contact an experienced New York birth injury attorney. The staff at Stephen Bilkis and Associates is experienced in successfully representing clients who have suffered injuries due to mistakes made by medical professionals, as well as those injured in car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents, and other types of accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case.