When Inadequate Fetal Monitoring Causes Birth Injuries
Fetal monitoring is a crucial component of prenatal care, allowing healthcare providers to track the well-being of both the mother and the developing baby. Fetal monitoring is vital as it tells the nurses and doctors if your baby is doing ok or is in need of help. Unfortunately, when medical professionals fail to properly interpret or respond to signs of distress before or during labor and delivery, it can result in serious birth injuries, such as cerebral palsy, brain damage, and even death.
At Cullan & Cullan, we understand the devastating impact that birth injuries can have on families and are committed to holding medical providers accountable when their actions fall below the accepted standard of care. Our Kansas City fetal monitoring malpractice lawyers are here to stand up for you and your child after inexcusable medical errors caused serious or permanent birth injuries. With more than $350 million in verdicts and settlements achieved for our clients and our unique backgrounds as medical doctors and anatomists, we are confident in our abilities to pursue justice and compensation on your behalf, too.
Talk to our birth injury lawyers now. Call (816) 253-8606 to tell us what happened.
What are Fetal Monitoring Errors?
Fetal monitoring errors can take many forms, from failing to properly interpret fetal heart rate patterns to delays in responding to signs of distress during labor and delivery. At Cullan & Cullan, we are familiar with the different ways in which medical practitioners can make mistakes in monitoring the health of a your baby. We have the experience necessary to handle any case involving a birth injury due to inadequate fetal monitoring.
Common types of fetal monitoring errors include:
- Failure to identify fetal distress: Healthcare providers must monitor the fetal heart rate during labor and delivery to identify signs of distress that may indicate the need for intervention, such as an emergency C-section. If they fail to recognize these signs or misinterpret the data, it can result in serious harm to the baby.
- Delay in communicating and responding to fetal distress: Even if healthcare providers correctly identify signs of fetal distress, a delay in responding to the situation can result in serious harm to the baby. For example, we have had many cases where nurses fail to tell the doctor that the baby is in distress. We have also had many cases where the nurses repeatedly call the doctor for help and the doctor fails to respond. if the healthcare provider does not order an emergency C-section in a timely manner, the baby may be deprived of oxygen, leading to fatal brain damage.
- Incorrect placement of the fetal monitor: The fetal monitor must be properly placed on the mother's abdomen to obtain an accurate reading of the fetal heart rate. If the monitor is incorrectly placed or frequently slips out of position, it can lead to inaccurate readings and put the baby at risk.
- Failure to properly document fetal monitoring: Accurate and complete documentation of fetal monitoring is important for identifying potential issues and determining the appropriate course of action. If healthcare providers fail to properly document fetal monitoring or omit important details, it can lead to errors in interpreting the data and harm to the baby.
Birth Injuries Caused by Fetal Monitoring Errors
Fetal monitoring errors can cause a wide range of harm to a newborn or unborn child, including serious and life-altering birth injuries. Such injuries can have a profound impact on both the child and their family, requiring life long medical care and specialized treatments or lifestyle adjustments.
Common types of birth injuries linked to fetal monitoring errors include the following and more:
- Brain damage: Oxygen deprivation due to a fetal monitoring error can cause brain damage, which may result in developmental delays, cognitive impairment, motor function problems, and seizures.
- Asphyxia: Fetal asphyxia occurs when the baby is deprived of oxygen during labor and delivery, often due to a delay in responding to fetal distress identified through fetal monitoring. Asphyxia can lead to cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, and other long-term health problems.
- Cerebral palsy: Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that affect movement and coordination and can be caused by fetal monitoring errors that lead to brain damage.
- Nerve damage: Nerve damage can occur when the baby's nerves are stretched, compressed, or damaged during birth. This type of injury can result in paralysis, muscle weakness, and loss of sensation. Fetal monitoring errors that lead to prolonged labor or other difficulties during delivery can increase the risk of nerve damage.
Future Damages in Fetal Monitoring Error Claims
Fetal monitoring errors during labor and delivery can cause permanent injuries to a child that may require extensive medical care, therapies, and support. These injuries can have a profound impact on the life of the child and their family. When a medical provider's negligence leads to these injuries, parents can choose to pursue legal action to hold the responsible party accountable and seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Importantly, the damages sought through a lawsuit against the negligent medical provider can include both past and future damages, even if that would mean years of specialized treatments.
Get a Free Consultation – Call Now
At Cullan & Cullan in Kansas City (both Kansas and Missouri), we are committed to helping families who have experienced the devastating effects of fetal monitoring errors. Our team of experienced birth injury attorneys has the knowledge and skill needed to hold medical providers liable for their negligence, and we understand the challenges that families face when caring for a child with a serious or permanent birth injury. If you suspect that your child's injuries were caused by a fetal monitoring error during labor and delivery, we encourage you to contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.
Want to talk to a Kansas City fetal monitoring error attorney directly? Dial (816) 253-8606 now.